The term "Linked database" is frequently encountered when learning about Notion databases. Are you proficient in using this feature?
Linked databases are an essential feature for mastering Notion databases.
This time, we'll clearly explain what a linked database is and how to use it!
If you want to learn more about databases, please also read the article here!
🎬 Director: Rei
✍🏻 Writer: Minorumi
1. What is a linked database?
A linked database is, as the name suggests, a database that is linked. The "linking" aspect is precisely what makes this feature so significant.
While it might initially appear to be a duplicated database, a "linked database" is identified by the upward-right arrow mark next to the database title.
A key characteristic of a linked database is that the information within it is linked to the original database, so any changes made from the linked database will also be reflected in the original.
Conversely, any changes made from the original database will, of course, be reflected in all linked databases.
2. What you can do with linked databases
Here, we'll explain what you can do with linked databases and how they can be useful.
2-1. You can place databases in different locations
Normally, a database can only be placed in the location where it was first created. While it can be duplicated, a duplicated database becomes a completely separate entity, disconnected from the original.
However, by using a linked database, you can embed a database whose contents are linked to the original onto multiple different pages.
Using this, for example, you can create a home screen that you open first every day and gather linked databases such as a diary or habit tracker there.
🔗 For more details on "Home screen," refer to the article here!
Being able to arrange multiple databases in one place is very convenient, as it saves you the trouble of navigating to each page.
2-2. The form can be changed to suit the page where it is placed
Another feature of linked databases is that while the "contents" of the database are linked, the "form" is not linked.
This "form" specifically refers to the following items that relate to the visual appearance of the database:
- View (type of table)
- Filter
- Sort
- Display/hide properties
💡Explanation of each feature
These items are not linked to the original database, so you can set them individually on the linked database side to match how the page where they are placed is used.
For example, linked databases can be utilized in specific scenarios like these:
🔧Examples of settings tailored to page use・Set a diary database placed on the home screen to display as a weekly view in calendar view.
・Filter a meeting notes database used company-wide to show only your team's notes.
・Hide properties in a meeting notes database, keeping only those relevant to the team visible.
3. How to create a linked database
Once you understand the overview of linked databases, let's actually create and interact with one.
1. Display the database you want to create a linked database from, then click "..." in the top right and select "Copy link to view."
2. Paste it where you want to place the linked database.
3. Click "Create linked view of database."
4. A linked database is created (indicated by an arrow icon next to the title, which means it's good to go).
If you try creating a new page from the linked database, you'll see that it's also reflected in the original database.
Once you've created a linked database, try customizing it to your liking by changing the view, applying filters, sorting, and showing/hiding properties.
4. Tips for mastering it even further
Finally, here are some useful tips to remember when using linked databases.
When you create a linked database, the title appears by default above the database, but you can hide it.
🔧How to hide the titleClick "..." next to the title and select "Hide title."
Hiding the title and using a heading block instead is recommended for a cleaner look.
Summary
That concludes our explanation of linked databases!
If you haven't been utilizing it much, now is a great opportunity to master it.
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