Forum Discussion

CassidyPhillips's avatar
CassidyPhillips
Qrew Member
6 years ago

Automatically create a parent record when info saved in the child reference field

Hi, I currently have two tables in a parent-child relationship: effectively I've got 100 parcels in the child table and each parcel is kept in one of ten boxes, which are kept in the parent table. Rat...
Data import and export
Relationships
Tables and fields
ClaireMartinez's avatar
ClaireMartinez
Qrew Trainee
5 years ago
Yes, this can be done using automations. I just learn this from Harrison today.
You can create a lookup field  (named: has-parent) on the child record to the parent's formula checkbox field that has the formula value of true. This lookup will be true if the parent exists false otherwise. Then in the automation when a child record is modified/added and its lookup has-parent field is unchecked then create a new parent record using the child content for the reference field value.
  • AlexCertificati's avatar
    AlexCertificati
    Qrew Cadet
    5 years ago
    That's a sweet trick.
  • DeepaPrashant1's avatar
    DeepaPrashant1
    Qrew Cadet
    4 years ago
    I need to do this as well. But my table relation is such that each parent can have multiple children. So when multiple children are created belonging to the same parent, the Quickbase action is creating multiple parents. Is there a way for it to ascertain that it is the same parent and not create duplicates? QB support has said this is not possible and hoping you have a workaround.

    Thanks in advance!!

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    Deepa Deepa
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    • MarkShnier__You's avatar
      MarkShnier__You
      Qrew Champion
      4 years ago
      Are your children being created via an import or just one by one.

      If being created one by one, why will the above solution not work for you.  Does the child record know the correct value for the Parent's Key field?  What is your definition of a duplicate parent?

      ------------------------------
      Mark Shnier (YQC)
      Quick Base Solution Provider
      Your Quick Base Coach
      http://QuickBaseCoach.com
      mark.shnier@gmail.com
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      • DeepaPrashant1's avatar
        DeepaPrashant1
        Qrew Cadet
        4 years ago
        Hi Mark!

        Data is being imported. The the key fields for the parent are included in the child import and the QBaction triggers the creation of the parent using those key data fields. Then another QBaction on the parent table triggers linking that parent to the child using a report link field (to link the newly created record ID of parent to imported child).

        Assume I have two children with record IDs 234 and 235 and both belong to one parent with same parent key fields. As soon as parent with record ID 9876 is created for child 234, it should also get linked to child 235. Right now, when the children are imported two parents are created with different record IDs. Within each parent I can see only one child.

        Is this doable?

        Thanks

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        Deepa Deepa
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