Learn how to manage your connections in Formalize, including creating, viewing and editing connections.
Overview
Previously, the way to manage connections in Formalize was fragmented and it was difficult to understand how to use them effectively. Connections were spread into different sections of a Resource, making it difficult to keep a unified view.
The newly improved Connection section offers a better way to understand how data connections work and how to use them effectively. With this redesign, you will benefit from a more flexible configuration and the possibility of customizing connections.
How we used Connections
Previously, you were able to add a Connection before saving the Resource. For example, you could create a new Asset, add the name, the description, a responsible user, a folder and a data connection. This way of managing connections has now changed.
With the new unified Connections section, you will have to save the resource and then add the connection.
What changes
When you create a Resource, such as a Supplier, a System or an Asset, the Data connections section will not be available anymore.
Instead, you will be able to connect your resource to another resource by using the newly improved Connections section. The image below shows you the consolidated Connections section, in the detail page of a System. If you had created any connections before this update, you will see them here.
You will now be able to connect any data points in your account. Whereas the connection options was limited before, the new redesigned functionality offers more options. For example, previously it was not possible to connect a process to a framework. With the new redesign, it is possible.
Another benefit of the new Connections is that you are now able to use connections in numeric calculations:
How to add a new connection
In order to add a new connection between two elements, you will have to proceed in 2 steps:
- First, go to the Settings and chose the Resource you wish to use
- Scroll to the Connections section and create a new custom connection by clicking on the button "+ Create".
You will also be able to give the connection a customized name:
You can also delete a Connection if you decide it is no longer necessary. From Settings, select your Resource and then scroll down to the Connections section. Then click on Edit connection, and here you can customize the connection and give it a new name if you want to. To remove this, press Delete at the bottom of this view.
Common questions
- What happens to my data connections after this new redesign is implemented?
All existing connections will be migrated to the new Connections setup, under the tree view for each resource.