Who This Is For / When to Use
Teams modeling relationships between contacts and custom objects.
Accounts that need structured links like Owner, Seller, Job, or Car.
Users who want to control how many records can be related on each side.
What Associations Are
Associations define how two records are connected.
Each association includes:
An association label (single or paired).
A relationship limit (one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many, or custom).
A direction that controls limits on each object.
Associations are managed at the object level and used at the record level.
Create an Association
Step 1: Open the Object Associations Tab
Go to Account > Settings > Objects.
Open the custom object you want to configure.
Click the Associations tab.
Click Create Association.
Step 2: Select the Object to Associate With
In the Create Association modal, choose the object you want to link (for example, Contacts).
Step 3: Choose the Label Type
You can define how the relationship is named.
Options:
Single label
Same label applies in both directions.
Example: Job ↔ Job
Pair of labels
Different labels for each direction.
Example: Buyer ↔ Seller
Example: If you are associating a car with its owner, you can set the labels as "Owner" and "Car"
Step 4: Configure Relationship Limits
Set how many records can be linked on each side.
Examples:
One Job → One Contact
One Contact → Many Jobs
Custom limits (for example, up to 25)
The preview updates automatically to show the impact.
Step 5: Save the Association
Review the preview.
Click Save to activate the association.
View Existing Associations
Where to Find Association Details
Open the custom object.
Go to the Associations tab.
Review the Association Details table.
This table shows:
Association label
Relationship limit
Associated object
Creator
Associate Records Together
Step 1: Open a Record
Open any contact or custom object record.
Step 2: Use the Related Objects Panel
On the right-hand side, open Related objects.
Click the association icon.
Select records to link.
Choose one or more labels.
Save.
Selecting Contacts During Association
When associating contacts:
Search and select contacts.
Assign one or multiple labels per contact.
Edit an Association
Go to Object > Associations.
Find the association.
Open the three-dot (kebab) menu.
Select Edit.
Save.
Note: You can change the label name, but cannot edit the internal name.
Delete an Association
When Deletion Is Allowed
No records are currently linked using that label.
Steps to Delete
Open the association menu.
Click Delete.
Type DELETE to confirm.
Click Delete.
This action is permanent and cannot be undone.
Relationship Limits Reference
Contact-to-Contact (Single Label)
One-to-One
Many-to-Many
Custom N-to-N
Contact ↔ Custom Object or Custom ↔ Custom
One-to-One
One-to-N (up to 1000)
One-to-Many
Many-to-Many
Custom limits
Common Issues and Fixes
Cannot Delete an Association
Ensure no records are currently linked.
Remove all existing relationships first.
Association Not Visible on Records
Confirm the association was saved.
Refresh the record view.
FAQ
How many association labels can I create?
You can create up to 10 association labels between the same two objects.
Can I change association limits later?
Yes. You can edit limits unless existing data violates the new rule.
Can I use multiple labels between the same two records?
Yes. Multiple labels can be applied to the same pair of records.
Do associations affect workflows?
Yes. Deleting an association will stop any workflows that rely on it.
Can I bulk import associations?
Yes. You can map associations during CSV import using unique identifiers such as Email or Record ID.