Table extension functionality allows for inheriting fields from a parent table. Tables are extended while creating tables.

Table extension is used for a set of records to share information with each other.

In the use case listed below, the Task table has multiple extensions:

Original tableExtended tables
Task
  • Incident
  • Service Request
  • Problem

An extended table is called a child table, and the original table is called a parent table. A child table in its turn can also be extended, and can have child tables.

When a child table is created, its list and form views are copied from a parent table, taking into account views of sections and related lists. You can set up these views later. Refer to the Form Layout and List Layout articles to learn more.

Table extension causes the following:

  • A new table and an extended one are linked.
  • System fields are created in the new table (like the sys_id field).


All Tables Dictionary

Role required: admin.

Instance administrators can use the All Tables dictionary to understand relationships between tables. To do this, please complete the steps below:

  1. Navigate to System Definition → All Tables.
  2. Find the table record you need to by typing its title in the search box.
  3. Navigate to this table.
  4. The value in the Parent field is the title of the parent table, the one the current table is sharing fields with.

Also, the parent table can be known if you have previously configured your list layout to display the Parent field. For more information, please refer to the List layout article.