Linking entities defines the relationships between data objects in the Knowledge Graph. These relationships reflect how real-world objects connect to each other, such as a professional who works at a specific facility, a product sold at a store location, or a job posting tied to a specific office.
There are three parts to any linked entity relationship:
- Entity A (the source entity)
- Entity B (the target entity)
- The relationship field (the Entity Relationship field that connects them)
When two entities are linked, the linked entity appears in the Linked Entities section on the right sidebar of Entity Edit. Linked entity fields can be updated individually or in bulk, just like any other field.
Relationship Types
Linked entity relationships are stored in fields that use the Entity Relationship field type. To create your own entity relationship, you’ll first need to create a custom field using the Entity Relationship field type. Then, you’ll use that field to link your entities.
When you create your Entity Relationship field, you’ll define the type of relationship you want your linked entities to have.
One-Way
Entity A is linked to Entity B, but Entity B is not linked back to Entity A. This is sometimes called a parent-child relationship.
Example: A product linked to the store location where it is sold. The product needs to reference the store, but the store does not need to reference each individual product.
Two-Way (Shared Field)
Both entities are linked to each other using the same field. The relationship looks the same regardless of which entity you are viewing it from.
Example: Two sibling entities linked by a "Siblings" field. Each sibling references the other using the same field.
Two-Way (Distinct Fields)
Both entities are linked to each other, but the relationship is represented by different fields on each entity.
Example: A professional linked to a location. The professional needs to connect to the location (to show that they work there), and the location needs to connect to the professional (to show that the professional is employed), but this relationship would be shown on different fields depending on whether you are looking at the Professional or the Location entity.
Create a Custom Entity Relationship Field
- Click Knowledge Graph in the navigation bar and click Configuration.
- Click Fields.
- Click on the + Add Field button.
- Click Select Field Type and select Entity Relationship from the dropdown menu.
- Select the type of relationship you would like to create. You can choose between a One-Way or a Two-Way relationship.
- If you selected a Two-Way relationship, you must also select a field configuration, either Shared Fields or Distinct Fields.
- Enter a name for the field. The ID will populate based on the name you choose, but you can edit it if you wish.
- If you selected a Two-Way relationship with Distinct Fields, you will need to enter a name for both fields.
- Select the entity types that you want this custom field to be available for in the Field Availability field. This is where the relationship will be accessed and stored in the Knowledge Graph.
- If you selected a Two-Way relationship with Distinct Fields, you will need to select the Field Availability for both fields.
- If you selected a One-Way relationship, in the Field Settings field, click on the Modify link to select the supported destination entity types, and click Apply.
- Enter the rest of the optional fields associated with your custom field, and click Save Field.
Link Entities Together
- Click Knowledge Graph in the navigation bar and click Entities.
- Click on the entity that you would like to link with another entity.
- Click on the name of the custom field you created in the Other Fields section and select the entity you would like to associate with this entity from the drop-down menu.
- For Two-Way relationships, you only need to do this on one of the entities that you are trying to link. The relationship will automatically sync for the other entity.
- Click Save.
The linked entity will now appear in the Linked Entities section on the right sidebar of Entity Edit for both entities.