One of the use cases for utilizing the Blockchain is to track relationship between different Assets. 


You can accomplish it with Asset Linking. 


Enable Asset Linking

Navigate to edit asset definition to omniChain \ Blockchain Setup \ Assets Definition.


  1. Select options dropdown Edit or Create.
  2. Select Enable parent and child records linking to enable asset linking.
  3. If you want to cross link across different assets types, select Enable parent and child records linking across different types and definitions.



Linking Assets


When you create or edit an asset you can establish a link between different assets. Once linking is enable, you will see an option to choose the linking asset. You can link as many assets as you want.


Note: when you create a link between the assets, the reverse link is established and created for you automatically. There is not need to go and updated the asset you linked to.


For every asset you can establish one or more Forward Link and Backward Link.


Forward Link - makes a connection to the forward or next parent of the asset. In our example "Baby San Diego" got adopted by "Greek Dolphins".

Backward Link - makes a connection to the parent of the asset or where the asset came from. In our example "Baby San Diego" was born to "San Diego Native", 


In this example, we can now trace "Baby San Diego", who are the birth parents and who are adopted parents. Traceability is one of the key value proposition of Blockchain network. 

Read more about in "Why Businesses Large and Small are turning to Blockchain technology".

  1. Navigate to create a new asset omniChain \ Assets. 
  2. Select Submit Asset.
  3. Click Add Forward Link and choose an asset to link to as a next parent. 
  4. Click Add Backward Link and choose an asset to link to as a past parent.
  5. Click Submit to record the new asset.



Navigating Linked Assets


Linked assets can be navigated. 


If you an asset admin, you can navigate the asset from the asset list. 

To navigate to assets list omniChain \ Assets. 


Select options drop down next to the asset. If asset is linked, you will see View Linked - > Forward Link and View Linked - > Backward Link options.


Note: if you are a regular user and an asset was transferred to you, you can use View option. You need to open your asset view with View shortcut from dropdown options in order to see navigation options.





Forward Link Example


Choosing  for "Greek Dolphins" View Linked - > Backward Link options opens linked assets that have been backward link to the specific assets. In our example, for "Greek Dolphins", "Baby San Diego" was back linked to them.



Choosing  for "San Diego Native" View Linked - > Forward Link options opens linked assets that have been parented by the specific assets. In our example, for "San Diego Native", "Baby San Diego" was parented by them. and then adopted by "Greek Dolphins".

 




Viewing Linked Asset

You can navigated linked asset from asset view screen. Select View next to the parent asset link in details. Read about Linking Security below on who is able to navigate the links.




Asset Linking Security

By default, the only admin with asset management rights can navigate asset linking. If you would like to enable any user who has a linked asset to navigate linking. You need to do so at Asset Definition level.


Navigate to manage asset definition omniChain \ Blockchain Setup \ Asset Definition. 

Select an asset definition you want to edit.


Navigate to Permission section, enable Allow owner to navigate parent and child record linking