# Record Type Design

> Design record types and their links on a visual diagram.

## What is this for?

The Visual Designer shows all of your record types on one diagram. Each record type appears as a card that lists its fields. You drag the cards to arrange them the way you want. As the number of record types grows, lists become hard to follow. The diagram shows the whole structure and how record types connect, even for a non-technical manager.

From the diagram you can add a record type, add fields and edit them. If a field links to another record type, the link appears as a badge next to that field. For example, next to the "customer" field on an "Order" card you see "→ Customer". Card positions are saved for the whole organization, so everyone sees the same layout. Changes to the layout never affect your records.

## Example scenario

Burak has just joined a facility management company and needs to understand how the records connect. He opens the Visual Designer and sees the "Customer" and "Order" cards. The "Order" card shows a "→ Customer" badge next to its customer field. Burak drags the cards into a clear arrangement. His colleagues see the same layout right away, and Burak understands the setup without reading any documents.

## Who uses it

- **Record type designers:** People who create and edit record types and fields, and arrange the cards on the diagram.
- **Process and business analysts:** People who want to understand how record types relate. With view-only permission, they can explore the diagram.
- **New team members:** People who want to learn the structure quickly. The diagram shows it without reading documentation.

Users with view permission can explore the diagram but cannot add or move cards.

## Step by step

1. **Open the designer.** In the Custom Entities section, switch to the Visual Designer. Every record type loads as a card.
2. **Move around the diagram.** Drag to pan, zoom in and out, and use "Fit View" to see the whole diagram. Use the search in the left panel to jump to a record type.
3. **Add a record type.** Click "New Entity". The new card appears on the diagram automatically.
4. **Edit fields.** From a card, add a field or edit an existing one. Link fields show a "→ target record type" badge on the card.
5. **Arrange the layout.** Drag cards into a clear arrangement. Positions save automatically after a short pause. The toolbar badge shows "Saving… / Saved".
6. **Share with your team.** Your layout applies to the whole team. Everyone sees the same diagram without any extra step from you.

## Process flow

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    A[Open the Visual Designer] --> C{What do you want to do}
    C --> D[Add a record type]
    C --> E[Add or edit a field]
    C --> F[Drag and arrange cards]
    D --> G[Diagram updates]
    E --> G
    F --> H[Position saves automatically]
    G --> I[Team sees the same layout]
    H --> I
```

## Frequently asked questions

**Does changing the diagram change my records?**
No. The diagram shows your record types and fields and lets you edit them. Moving cards only changes the view, and your records are not affected.

**Can I see how one record type links to another?**
Yes. Link fields show a "→ target record type" badge on the card, so you can see at a glance what links to what. If the linked record type was deleted, the badge shows "deleted link".

**Will others see the layout I create?**
Yes. Layouts are shared across the organization. If two people edit at the same time, the changes are merged and no data is lost.

**Can I draw a line between two record types?**
Not yet. Links are shown as badges on the cards. Drawing lines between boxes by hand is planned for a later version. To create a link, add a link field to a record type.

**Will the diagram slow down with many record types?**
The diagram only displays the cards visible on screen, and you can collapse cards to simplify it. When there are many record types, the toolbar warns you and suggests collapsing cards in bulk.