A product link pairs one of your products with a counterparty and the product number that counterparty uses for it. When a transaction from that counterparty arrives with their number on it, ChainTraced attaches your product for you, so requirements, history and traceability are in place without anyone opening the transaction.
Where: Registry > Product Links
What a link is
|
Part |
Meaning |
|---|---|
|
Product |
A product from your registry. |
|
Counterparty |
The supplier or customer the link applies to. |
|
Counterparty product number |
The number they use: the supplier's product number if you are the customer, the customer's if you are the supplier. |
A transaction matches a link when it comes from the same counterparty and the product they attached has that number. Example: you buy Steel from Steel Supplier, who call it Steel (Hardened).
|
Product |
Counterparty |
Counterparty product number |
|---|---|---|
|
Steel |
Steel Supplier |
Steel (Hardened) |
When Steel Supplier sends you a transaction with their product Steel (Hardened), your product Steel is attached to it automatically.
One link per pair. For a given counterparty and counterparty product number there can be only one link; otherwise ChainTraced could not tell which of your products to attach. Several counterparty numbers may point to the same product of yours.
Manage links
|
Action |
How |
|---|---|
|
Create one |
Create new Product Link opens Add a product link: pick the product and the counterparty, enter the Counterparty product number, click Add. A pair that already has a link is refused. |
|
Change one |
Edit the row directly in the table and save it. |
|
Delete |
Tick the rows, open Edit in the toolbar and choose Delete. |
|
Load many |
Import product links takes a CSV with Product Number, Counterparty ID and Counterparty Product Number; Download Csv Template gives the layout and the import page lists the file rules, including the row limit. An imported pair replaces an existing link for the same pair. |
Links are also created for you
When a transaction is Approved and both you and the counterparty have a product attached, a link between your product, the counterparty and their product number is stored automatically. If a link for that pair already exists it is replaced, so the most recently approved transaction decides. Linking a product on a transaction that is not yet approved does not create a link.
When links are applied
|
Moment |
What happens |
|---|---|
|
A transaction is sent to you or requested from you |
The counterparty's product number is looked up among your links and the linked product is attached. |
|
The counterparty changes their product on a transaction |
The lookup runs again with the new number. |
|
You create or import a link |
Your open transactions from that counterparty with that number and no product of yours yet get the product attached. Open means Requested, Requested changes or, as customer, Needs your approval, and as supplier also your own drafts. |
Transactions you create yourself are not matched against your links, since you choose the product when you create them. A product attached automatically can always be changed on the transaction; see Link product numbers from the transaction list.