Linked Workflow Sections allow you to display, create, or link related Record data in other Workflows.
Introduction to Linked Workflow Sections
If two Workflows have been mapped to one another, you can include a Linked Workflow Section in the form of a Step to allow users to view or take action on related data.
Linked Workflow Sections are typically used to:
- Allow a user to create a (new) child Record that is linked to a parent Record.
- Link to an existing Records
- Display details of parent Records so that an end user performing work on a child Record has access to sufficient contextual information to perform work in the Step.
Using Table Reports for Record Linking (Recommended)
As of December 2025, you can power Linked Workflow Sections using Table Reports instead of Layouts! Table Reports provide a more robust, user-friendly experience for both builders and end users.
In order to activate this feature, your step must be upgraded to the current user experience. To configure a Linked Workflow Section for a legacy step or layout, jump to the bottom of this article for a walkthrough video.
Why Use Table Reports?
Table Reports offer several advantages over the legacy Layout approach:
- Pre-defined filters and sorting: Builders can configure default filters and sort orders for an optimized end-user experience
- End User Filter and search capabilities: End users can filter and search to quickly find the records they need
- Multi-select linking: Select and link multiple records at once using checkboxes, instead of linking one at a time
- In-line editing: Edit linked records directly in the table (with proper permissions) without navigating away from the parent record
- Reusable configurations: Leverage existing Table Reports instead of creating new Layouts
- Ignore Archived Records: Any archived records will be hidden when browsing for records to link
Current Limitation: Table Report Record Linking currently supports single-workflow Table Reports only. Support for multi-workflow Table Reports will be available in February 2026.
How to Configure a Linked Workflow Section with Table Reports
Video Walkthrough
For a visual guide to configuring Table Report Record Linking, watch our instructional video:
Step 1: Add a Linked Workflow Section
Open the Step where you want to add the Linked Workflow Section and click the Add Table then Link Workflow:
Step 2: Select the Linked Workflow
In the Linked Workflow dropdown, select the Workflow you want to display information from in this Section:
Note: You can only select from Workflows for which mappings have been created. Refer to the Connecting Workflows Together article to learn more about creating relationships between Workflows.
Step 3: Choose a Table Report
By default, new Linked Workflow Sections will use Table Report mode. You will see a dropdown to select an existing Table Report.
Select a Table Report from the dropdown. The Table Report determines:
- What columns (fields) are displayed to end users
- Any pre-defined filters or sorting
- Search capabilities
Note: Table Reports must be single-workflow reports where the primary workflow is the linked workflow. Multi-workflow Table Reports are not yet supported.
Step 4: Configure End User Permissions
Configure what you want end users to be able to do using the Linked Workflow Section:
Allow assignee to:
- Create a new Record that is linked to this record: When enabled, you can also choose the Step in which the new Record will be created, and whether to automatically start the new record upon creation.
- Search for Records and link to this record: Allows users to browse existing records and link them.
- Unlink Records: Allows users to remove links between records.
Require assignee to:
- Link at least one Record before submitting: Ensures the user links at least one record before they can submit.
- Complete all linked Records before submitting: Ensures all linked child records are completed before the parent can be submitted.
Step 6: Add Guidance (Optional)
Use the Guidance field to provide instructions to end users. This guidance appears directly above the Linked Workflow Section on the record page, eliminating unnecessary scrolling and confusion.
The End User Experience with Table Reports
When an end user views a record with a Table Report-powered Linked Workflow Section, they will see two tabs:
Linked Tab
The Linked tab displays all records that are currently linked to the parent record. From this tab, end users can:
- View linked record details in the table format
- Edit linked records in-line (if Table Report Configuration and user permissions allow)
- Open a linked record in the Preview Panel or navigate to it directly
- Unlink records (if permissions allow)
Note: The Linked tab shows ALL linked records, regardless of any builder-defined filters. This ensures users can always see and complete required linked records.
Browse Tab
The Browse tab allows end users to search for and link existing records. From this tab, end users can:
- View all linkable records from the linked workflow
- Use filters and search to find specific records
- Select multiple records using checkboxes
- Link selected records with a single action
Note: Records that are (a) already linked, (b) archived, or (c) ineligible for linking (based on relationship mapping or workflow direction) are automatically filtered out.
What's Coming Next
We're continuing to enhance Table Report Record Linking with upcoming features:
- Performance improvements (January 2026): Decreased load times for Linked Record Sections
- Multi-workflow Table Report support (February 2026): Use Table Reports that span multiple workflows, with intelligent duplicate handling
- Summary Fields integration (March 2026): Automatically generate a default Table Report configuration based on your workflow's Summary Fields
Top use cases for Table Report Record Linking
We’re confident that Table Report Record Linking is an improvement for all users and use cases, but there are some instances where it may be especially useful:
Controls & Audit Management
In Controls Compliance and Internal Audit Management, use filtering to quickly identify and select only the controls that are in-scope for a specific audit or assessment—no more scrolling through hundreds of controls to find the right ones!
Risk Management
When Linking risks to assessments in Enterprise Risk Management and/or Cyber Risk Management, filter your risk register by risk area, owner, or score when linking risks to assessment records.
In Operational Risk Management, after connecting operational risks to controls, edit linked control records directly from the risk record to update control effectiveness or status without navigating away.
Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery
In Disaster Recovery Management, filter for playbooks linked to the specific Disaster Recovery Plan you are testing, streamlining the process of creating playbook execution records.
Compliance & Policy Management
In Policy & Procedure Management, filter employees when policies need to be acknowledged by a specific subset (e.g., by department, location, or role).
When doing PCI merchant testing via the PCI Compliance application, filter PCI requirements when initiating evaluations, enabling users to quickly select the appropriate SAQ controls.
Standards & Frameworks
In the HITRUST and SCF Standards & Regulations applications, use filtering to improve navigation across control frameworks and streamline evidence collection.
A Few Considerations for Table Report Powered Linked Workflow Sections
- The browse section will only display records that the end user has access to. To understand more, refer to our help center article on Permissions.
- User Group access is applied to displaying records in the Linked Workflow Section. This means records restricted to a User Group will not be visible to users who are not part of the User Group.
- When searching for Records in Linked Workflow Sections, the search will return results ONLY if a match is found on a field that is displayed in the Table Report.
- Archived records will be excluded from Browse
- For now, the Table Report must be a single-workflow report. Multi-workflow support is coming no later than February 2026.
Using Layouts for Record Linking (Legacy)
How to Configure a Linked Workflow Section
1. Navigate to the Step Builder and add a Form Section to your Step by clicking the Add Form Section button.
2. Click Link Workflow to add a Linked Workflow Section.
3. In the Linked Workflow dropdown, select the Workflow that should have information displayed in this Section.
4. Select a Layout from the drop-down. The Layout determines what data is displayed to the end user. The default Layout displays the Record Name, Workflow, Current Step, Status, and User.
Creating a custom Layout will allow you to capture the data most relevant to your end users. The image below shows the same Linked Workflow Section as the one above, but with a customized Layout.
5. Configure what you want end users to be able to do using the Linked Workflow Section.
6. You can allow the user to create new Record that is linked to the Record the user is working on.
When this option is selected, you will also be able choose the Step in which you want the new Record to be created in (A). Additionally, you can also choose to automatically start the new Record upon creation (B). If this option (B) is selected, when end users create a new Record they will be automatically taken to the page of the new Record, and redirected back to the initial form when they submit the new Record. If this option is not selected, the new Record will appear in the "Linked Records" Section, but the end user will have to click on the Record Name (or another Field Link) in order to fill in details in the form.
The image below shows how the above configuration appears to end users. Users can click + Create New Assessment to create an Assessment Record and will automatically be taken to a page where Assessment details can be entered.
7. You can allow users to search for and link Records that already exist in the linked Workflow. The image below shows how this configuration appears to end users. The end user can click Link to link the Risk Record to the Assessment Record.
8. You can allow users to remove Records that have been linked to the Record.
Additionally, in order to ensure that work in Steps is being completed appropriately, you can require assignees to link at least one Record to the Record they are working on before they can submit it (a). For example, in an Enterprise Risk Management application, an administrator might want to require that the end user link at least one Risk to an Assessment Record before the Assessment Record is submitted so that the Risk Assessment is performed correctly. You can also configure the Section so that all linked Records have to be completed before the Record is submitted (b). For example, an Administrator might want to require that all Mitigation Records linked to an Assessment be completed before the Assessment Record is submitted.
9. Add Guidance
Linked Workflow Guidance was released in April 2025 for all steps where UXRI is activated. Use this new field to positioning guidance closer to linked workflows/relationship reports, eliminating unnecessary scrolling and end user confusion.
Builder View:
Record Page:
A few considerations for Linked Workflow Sections
When searching for Records in Linked Workflow Sections, the search will return results for ALL Fields in the Workflow, not just those shown on the Layout.
As of April 2024, User Group access is applied to displaying records in the Linked Workflow Section. This means records restricted to a User Group will not be visible to users who are not part of the User Group.