---
title: "Define related columns"
slug: "define-related-columns"
description: "Create relationships between worksheets, add related columns, edit and delete them."
updated: 2023-11-24T14:32:15Z
published: 2023-11-24T14:32:15Z
canonical: "docs.zilliant.com/define-related-columns"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.zilliant.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Define related columns

Some IQ Interface worksheets contain related columns. You can recognize related columns by the yellow-colored bar under the column header.

![Columns.png](https://cdn.document360.io/24f960e8-3c1c-4c18-a2c6-83b6ae4aab84/Images/Documentation/Columns%281%29.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A53%3A13Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A53%3A13Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=BBxWb3JjZJ7IwcwNNIpVoI%2B5kBV3fWruGwHDV1S49pI%3D)

Some worksheets have pre-defined, related columns that are available to use immediately. In some cases, however, you must manually define a relationship between your target worksheet's primary data source and another worksheet's primary data source before you can add related columns from that other worksheet to the target worksheet.

          Important

          

Related columns are read-only. If you want to change values in a related column, you must do this in a worksheet that uses that column as its primary data source.

Learn how to:

- [Define a relationship between two worksheets](/v1/docs/define-related-columns#define-a-relationship-between-two-worksheets)
- [Add related columns to a worksheet](/v1/docs/define-related-columns#add-related-columns-to-a-worksheet)
- [Edit the related column settings](/v1/docs/define-related-columns#edit-the-related-column-settings)
- [Delete related columns from a worksheet](/v1/docs/define-related-columns#delete-related-columns-from-a-worksheet)

## Define a relationship between two worksheets

You can create a relationship between worksheets. The worksheets can be in the same or different workbooks.

1. In a worksheet or a workbook, select **Properties**.
2. In the left panel, select **Relationships**.

          Tip

          

Existing relationships for the worksheet's primary data source are listed in the **Relationships** area. If a relationship with the target worksheet is already defined, you can [add related columns](/v1/docs/define-related-columns#add-related-columns-to-a-worksheet).

1. Select **New**.
2. From the **Related Type** dropdown, select **Worksheet**.
3. From the **Related Workbook** dropdown, select the desired workbook.
4. From the **Related Worksheet** dropdown, select a worksheet in the workbook.
5. From the **Join Type** dropdown, select a join type:
  - **Left**—Returns all records from this worksheet, and the matched records from the related worksheet.
  - **Right**—Returns all records from the related worksheet, and the matched records from this worksheet.
  - **Inner**—Returns records that have matching values in both worksheets.
  - **Outer**—Returns all records (both matched and unmatched) from both worksheets.
  - **Cross**—Returns each record from this worksheet combined with each record from the related worksheet.
6. Specify which **Source Column** in this worksheet should be joined to a corresponding **Related Column** in the other worksheet.
          Important

          

To avoid configuration errors, only columns that match the data type of the **Source Column** are available in the **Related Column** dropdown. For example, you cannot join a column with a numeric data type to a column with a string data type​.
7. From the **Operator** dropdown, select the join condition:
  - For source columns with string and Boolean data types, select one of these operators:
    - **Equals** (=)
    - **Not equals** (!=)
  - For source columns with numeric, date, or datetime data types, select one of these operators:
    - **Equals** (=)
    - **Not equals** (!=)
    - **Less than** (<)
    - **Less than or equal to** (<=)
    - **Greater than** (>)
    - **Greater than or equal to** (>=)
8. Select **Save**. The primary data source for the other worksheet now appears in the gray-colored **Relationships** area.
9. Select **Go back to Workbook**.

## Add related columns to a worksheet

If your worksheet has at least one relationship defined, you can add any column from the related worksheet as a related column.

1. In the worksheet, select **Column and KPI Settings**.
2. Select **Manage Columns**, then select **Manage Related Columns**.

          Note

          

If the column you want to add isn't visible, select **Manage Columns** > **Show Hidden Columns**, then toggle **Show** on the column name to make it visible in the worksheet.

1. In **Manage Related Columns of your Worksheet**:
  1. Select a worksheet, then select a related entity from the **Columns** list.
  2. Select **Add** for each related column you want to add.
  3. Select **Save**.
2. Hide the **Column and KPI Settings** panel, then drag the new column's header label to the position you want in the worksheet.

## Edit the related column settings

1. In the worksheet, select **Column and KPI Settings**.
2. On the **Column** tab, select the column you want to edit.
3. Make changes in **Column settings**, then select **Save**.

## Delete related columns from a worksheet

There are two different ways to remove related columns from the worksheet.

#### Hide a column but keep it in the worksheet

1. In a worksheet, select **Column and KPI Settings**.
2. On the **Column** tab, toggle **Show** on the column name.

#### Permanently delete a related column from the worksheet

1. In a worksheet, select **Column and KPI Settings**.
2. On the **Column** tab​, select **Manage Columns**, then select **Manage Related Columns**.
3. Clear the checkbox for each related column you want to remove from the worksheet.
4. Select **Save**.

This type of columns enables you to combine data from many different data sources into one worksheet.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/24f960e8-3c1c-4c18-a2c6-83b6ae4aab84/Images/Glossary/settings_60.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A53%3A13Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A53%3A13Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=BBxWb3JjZJ7IwcwNNIpVoI%2B5kBV3fWruGwHDV1S49pI%3D)

Properties

![](https://cdn.document360.io/24f960e8-3c1c-4c18-a2c6-83b6ae4aab84/Images/Glossary/table_60(1).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A53%3A13Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A53%3A13Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=BBxWb3JjZJ7IwcwNNIpVoI%2B5kBV3fWruGwHDV1S49pI%3D)

Column and KPI Settings

![](https://cdn.document360.io/24f960e8-3c1c-4c18-a2c6-83b6ae4aab84/Images/Glossary/preview_60(2).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A53%3A13Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A53%3A13Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=BBxWb3JjZJ7IwcwNNIpVoI%2B5kBV3fWruGwHDV1S49pI%3D)

Show

![](https://cdn.document360.io/24f960e8-3c1c-4c18-a2c6-83b6ae4aab84/Images/Glossary/add_60(1).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T17%3A53%3A13Z&se=2026-11-10T18%3A53%3A13Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=BBxWb3JjZJ7IwcwNNIpVoI%2B5kBV3fWruGwHDV1S49pI%3D) Add