What relationships are for
A relationship links two contacts and says how they're connected, such as an advisor, assistant, spouse or family member. Relationships let you:
See who's connected to a client right on their profile.
Add a client's related contacts to Smart Mail in one click.
Step 1: Open the contact
In the left menu, click Contacts and open the contact.
Step 2: Open Edit Contact
Click the pencil icon (Edit Info). The Edit Contact page opens.
Step 3: Add the relationship
Scroll down to Relationships.
Click Select a Contact and search for the person you want to link.
Click add relationship. Pick a type from the list, or type a new one.
Press Enter or click anywhere else on the page. The relationship saves on its own.
Click Done to close the page.
The row reads like a sentence, for example "Sandra Berry is the Advisor to Sofia."
Good to know:
You can add as many relationships as you need. Use the blank row at the top of the section for each new one.
The types in the list are your gallery's own. A new type you enter is added to the list.
To remove a relationship, click the ⓧ next to it. It's removed right away.
How relationships show on both contacts
A relationship shows on both contacts. If you add Adrian as Sofia's brother:
Sofia's profile shows "brother: Adrian Rivera."
Adrian's profile shows "brother to: Sofia Laurent."
On Adrian's Edit Contact page, the row reads "Sofia Laurent's Brother is Adrian."
You can change or remove the relationship from either contact.
Manage relationship types
Your gallery's relationship types are listed in Settings > Tags > Relationships. The Count column shows how many relationships use each type.
Rename a type: hover over it and click the pencil icon. Enter the new name and click Update. The change applies everywhere that type is used.
Delete a type: click the trash icon. If the type is in use, you'll see "You cannot mass-remove linked relationships. Please delete them manually." Remove those relationships from each contact first.
What "unknown" and other timeline entries mean
When a relationship is added, changed or removed, both contacts get a timeline entry:
Contact Relationship is created by [user]
Contact Relationship is edited by [user]
Contact Relationship is deleted by [user]
The line underneath shows the type, for example "brother of," or says the contact "is no longer a related contact."
"(no name)": the timeline currently shows "(no name)" instead of the related contact's name. This is a display issue, and the relationship is still linked to the right person. Check the contact's profile to see who it is.
"(unknown)": the relationship's type is "unknown." This usually comes from Smart Mail. When you personalize an email for a client and add another contact in To, Cc or Bcc, ARTERNAL links the two contacts with the type "unknown" if they aren't already related. To fix it, open Edit Contact and pick a type, or remove the relationship.
Entries keep the name of the team member who made the change, even if that person is no longer active.
Use relationships in Smart Mail
In Mail, click Compose and add the client with Add Contacts.
Click the + on the client's card. It lists their related contacts and any other email addresses they have.
Choose To, Cc or Bcc next to the person you want to add.
Good to know: adding another contact to To, Cc or Bcc on a personalized email links them to the client with the type "unknown." You can change the type or remove it on the client's Edit Contact page.
On mobile, see Add Associated Contacts to Emails on Mobile.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I need to click Done to save?
A: No. The relationship saves when you press Enter or click away from the type. Done closes the page.
Q: Why is there a relationship I didn't add?
A: It was probably created from Smart Mail when someone added that contact to a client's personalized email. Its type shows as "unknown." Change or remove it on Edit Contact.
Q: Can I import relationships in bulk?
A: Not at the moment. Add them on the Edit Contact page.
Q: Who can add or remove relationships?
A: Anyone who can edit either contact. If your access doesn't allow it, you'll see "You do not have permission to edit relationships."
Q: What happens if I delete or merge a contact?
A: Deleting a contact removes its relationships. Merging keeps them on the contact you keep.
Q: Where else are relationships used?
A: When you send an invoice, Add related contact under To, Cc and Bcc suggests the buyer's related contacts.
Q: How are relationships different from artwork associations or buyers?
A: Relationships link two contacts. Artwork associations link a contact to an artwork, such as a curator or previous owner, and are managed on the artwork. Buyers link a contact to an invoice.