[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":248},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-02-reference-a-linked-records-fields-in-automations":3,"surround":239},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"date":217,"description":218,"extension":219,"head":220,"meta":221,"navigation":227,"path":228,"schemaOrg":220,"screenshot":229,"screenshotMargin":230,"seo":231,"sitemap":232,"stem":233,"tags":234,"__hash__":238},"updates\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-02-reference-a-linked-records-fields-in-automations.md","Reference a linked record's fields in automations",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":208},"minimark",[9,13,18,39,50,54,94,98,151,158,162,186,190,199],[10,11,12],"p",{},"The details an automation needs often live on a linked record - the company behind an opportunity, or the site a job belongs to. Until now, using one of those values in an automation meant adding a lookup field to copy it onto the record first. Automations can now read the linked record's fields directly.",[14,15,17],"h2",{"id":16},"whats-new","What's new:",[10,19,20,21,25,26,30,31,34,35,38],{},"Anywhere an automation step takes an expression - a task's name and description, an email or a notification - you can now reach one link further. Type ",[22,23,24],"code",{},"$",", click the arrow next to a link such as ",[27,28,29],"strong",{},"Contact"," and choose one of that record's fields, or type the reference with a dot, such as ",[22,32,33],{},"$CONTACT.EMAIL",". Trigger and ",[27,36,37],{},"If..."," conditions can pick linked fields in the same way.",[10,40,41,42,45,46,49],{},"The same works in a form's ",[27,43,44],{},"Button label"," and in ",[27,47,48],{},"Choose where this form appears",", so a form can name the linked customer on its button or show only for customers in a particular industry.",[14,51,53],{"id":52},"why-it-matters","Why it matters:",[55,56,57,64,70,76],"ul",{},[58,59,60,63],"li",{},[27,61,62],{},"Use the source of truth"," by reading the value from the record that owns it.",[58,65,66,69],{},[27,67,68],{},"Build fewer helper fields"," as there's no need to add a lookup just to use a value in an email or condition.",[58,71,72,75],{},[27,73,74],{},"Write clearer messages"," with the customer's name, address or account manager straight from the linked record.",[58,77,78,81,82,86,87,86,90,93],{},[27,79,80],{},"Trigger more precisely"," with conditions such as ",[83,84,85],"em",{},"Company's Industry"," ",[27,88,89],{},"is",[83,91,92],{},"Technology",".",[14,95,97],{"id":96},"how-it-works","How it works:",[99,100,101,108,118,130,133,148],"ol",{},[58,102,103,104,107],{},"Open ",[27,105,106],{},"Settings → Operations → Automations"," and open or add an automation.",[58,109,110,111,114,115,117],{},"Add a step, such as ",[27,112,113],{},"Add a task",", and type ",[22,116,24],{}," in its name or description.",[58,119,120,121,123,124,127,128,93],{},"Click the arrow next to a link - for example ",[27,122,29],{}," - and select one of its fields, such as ",[27,125,126],{},"Email",". Kinabase inserts it with a dot, for example ",[22,129,33],{},[58,131,132],{},"Or type the reference yourself in any expression, using the link's name, a dot and the field's name.",[58,134,135,136,139,140,143,144,147],{},"To use a linked field in a condition, select ",[27,137,138],{},"If a field value is..."," under the trigger, or ",[27,141,142],{},"Add condition"," in ",[27,145,146],{},"What to do",", and pick the field the same way.",[58,149,150],{},"Save the automation.",[10,152,153,154,157],{},"Note: Only fields on the next record along are offered, and an empty link gives a blank value. A scheduled trigger's ",[27,155,156],{},"Due Date"," still needs a date on the record itself.",[14,159,161],{"id":160},"when-to-use-it","When to use it:",[55,163,164,170,180],{},[58,165,166,169],{},[27,167,168],{},"Recruitment agencies"," can email a candidate's interview confirmation that includes the hiring company's address, taken straight from the linked client record.",[58,171,172,175,176,179],{},[27,173,174],{},"Facilities teams"," can raise a task only when a job's linked site is marked ",[83,177,178],{},"High risk",", without copying the risk rating onto every job.",[58,181,182,185],{},[27,183,184],{},"Wholesale distributors"," can notify the linked account manager by name when a large order comes in from one of their customers.",[14,187,189],{"id":188},"get-started","Get started",[10,191,192,193,195,196,198],{},"Open an automation under ",[27,194,106],{}," and type ",[22,197,24],{}," in any step to pick a field from a linked record.",[10,200,201,202,207],{},"If you have questions or feedback, we would love to hear from you. Email ",[203,204,206],"a",{"href":205},"mailto:support@kinabase.com","support@kinabase.com"," — we're listening.",{"title":209,"searchDepth":210,"depth":210,"links":211},"",2,[212,213,214,215,216],{"id":16,"depth":210,"text":17},{"id":52,"depth":210,"text":53},{"id":96,"depth":210,"text":97},{"id":160,"depth":210,"text":161},{"id":188,"depth":210,"text":189},"2026-10-02","Use a field from a linked record anywhere an automation takes an expression or a condition - pick it from the field list or type it with a dot, such as $COMPANY.NAME.","md",null,{"readingTime":222},{"text":223,"minutes":224,"time":225,"words":226},"3 min read",2.29,137400,458,true,"\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-02-reference-a-linked-records-fields-in-automations","\u002Fupdates\u002F2026\u002F2026-10-02-reference-a-linked-records-fields-in-automations.png",false,{"title":5,"description":218},{"loc":228},"updates\u002F2026-10-02-reference-a-linked-records-fields-in-automations",[235,236,237],"Automation","Expression","Form","abKfvBE5OpdpMoW_-rpJQrsh5QEqqKO1hpxbKditi5I",[240,244],{"title":241,"path":242,"stem":243,"children":-1},"Give every new phone number the right dialling code","\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-01-give-every-new-phone-number-the-right-dialling-code","updates\u002F2026-10-01-give-every-new-phone-number-the-right-dialling-code",{"title":245,"path":246,"stem":247,"children":-1},"Shorten record names into consistent codes","\u002Fupdates\u002F2026-10-07-shorten-record-names-into-consistent-codes","updates\u002F2026-10-07-shorten-record-names-into-consistent-codes",1792601124928]