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Cross Dataset Reference

A schema type for referencing documents in another dataset within the same project.

Cross Dataset References allow you to connect documents across datasets. While similar to the reference type, they have their own, distinct schema type of crossDatasetReference and the two can not be used interchangeably.

To learn about how to set up your datasets for cross-dataset referencing, please refer to the introduction article Cross Domain References.

Paid feature

Shared content with Cross-Dataset References is an enterprise feature. Use our contact form to start a conversation with our sales team to enable your project to use this feature.

Gotcha

Cross dataset references can only be dereferenced using GROQ queries. Dereferencing through GraphQL endpoints is not currently supported.

Properties

  • REQUIREDtypestring

    Value must be set to crossDatasetReference.

  • REQUIREDnamestring

    The field name. This will be the key in the data record.

  • REQUIREDtoarray

    Must contain an array naming all the types from the referenced dataset which should be available in the referencing studio e.g. [{type: 'someTypeFromAnotherDataset'}]. See more examples below.

    Note: While you may refer to several types in your referenced dataset in the to array, you are limited to types from a single dataset for each field.

  • REQUIREDdatasetstring

    The name of the referenced dataset.

  • studioUrlfunction

    A function that is invoked with the type and id of the referenced document, and returns a string that can be used to construct a URL directly to the item referenced in its studio environment.

    Example:

    studioUrl: ({ type, id }) => `https://<your-studio-url>/desk/intent/edit/id=${id};type=${type}/`

  • weakboolean

    Default false. If set to true the reference will be made weak. This allows references to point at documents that may or may not exist, such as a document that has not yet been published or a document that has been deleted (or indeed an entirely imagined document).

  • titlestring

    Human readable label for the field.

  • hiddenboolean | function

    If set to true, this field will be hidden in the studio. You can also return a callback function to use it as a conditional field.

  • readOnlyboolean | function

    If set to true, this field will not be editable in the content studio. You can also return a callback function to use it as a conditional field.

  • descriptionstring

    Short description to editors how the field is to be used.

  • initialValueObjectOrResolverFunction

    The initial value that will be used when creating new values from this type. Can be either the literal value or a resolver function that returns either the literal value or a promise that resolves to the initial value.

  • deprecated{ reason: String }

    Marks a field or document type as deprecated in the studio interface and displays a user-defined message defined by the single required reason property.

    If you deploy a GraphQL API schema, this property will translated into the @deprecated directive.

Options

  • filterstring | function

    Additional GROQ-filter to use when searching for target documents. The filter will be added to the already existing type name clause.

    If a function is provided, it is called with an object containing document, parent and parentPath properties, and should return an object containing filter and params. As of v2.4.0 this function can optionally be async and return a Promise that resolves to an object containing filter and params.

    Note: The filter only constrains the list of documents returned at the time you search. It does not guarantee that the referenced document will always match the filter provided.

  • filterParamsobject

    Object of parameters for the GROQ-filter specified in filter.

Validation

Learn more about validation
  • required()function

    Ensures that this field exists.

  • custom(fn)function

    Creates a custom validation rule.

Cross Dataset Reference

A minimal example of a crossDatasetReference field:

Input

{
  title: `Person in another dataset"`,
  name: 'personReference',
  type: 'crossDatasetReference',
  dataset: 'production',
  to: [
    {
      type: 'person',
      preview: {
        select: {
          title: 'name',
          media: 'image',
        },
      },
    },
  ],
}

Output

  {
    "_type": "crossDatasetReference",
    "_ref": "person_andrew-stanton",
    "_dataset": "production"
  }

Weak reference

Defining the crossDatasetReference as weak, will unblock publishing of documents that has a (cross-dataset) reference to a non-existing document.

Input

{
  title: `Person in another dataset"`,
  name: 'personReference',
  type: 'crossDatasetReference',
  dataset: 'production',
  weak: true,
  to: [
    {
      type: 'person',
      preview: {
        select: {
          title: 'name',
          media: 'image',
        },
      },
    },
  ],
}

Output

  {
    "_type": "crossDatasetReference",
    "_ref": "person_andrew-stanton",
    "_dataset": "production",
    "_weak": true,
  }

Reference multiple types

The directors field is an array that can contain both person and bovinae (in the rare occasion a cow would direct a movie) references:

Input

{
  title: `Person or cow in another dataset"`,
  name: 'personOrCowReference',
  type: 'crossDatasetReference',
  dataset: 'production',
  to: [
    {
      type: 'person',
      preview: {
        select: {
          title: 'name',
          media: 'image',
        },
      },
    },
    {
      type: 'bovinae',
      preview: {
        select: {
          title: 'name',
          media: 'avatar',
        },
      },
    },
  ],
}

Output

[
  {
    "_type": "crossDatasetReference",
    "_ref": "person_andrew-stanton",
    "_dataset": "production"
  },
  {
    "_type": "crossDatasetReference",
    "_ref": "bovinae_ferdinand-bull",
    "_dataset": "production"
  }
]

Additional static filter

If providing a target schema type is not enough to provide a meaningful set of search results, you may want to further constrain the search query:

Input

{
  title: `Person in another dataset"`,
  name: 'personReference',
  type: 'crossDatasetReference',
  dataset: 'production',
  options: {
    filter: 'role == $role',
    filterParams: {role: 'director'}
  },
  to: [
    {
      type: 'person',
      preview: {
        select: {
          title: 'name',
          media: 'image',
        },
      },
    },
  ],
}

Output

{
    "_type": "crossDatasetReference",
    "_ref": "person_steven-spielberg",
    "_dataset": "production",
  }

Additional dynamic filter

If you want to further constrain the search result, but need properties from the surrounding document or object/array, you can use the function form for filter:

Input

{
  title: `Person in another dataset"`,
  name: 'personReference',
  type: 'crossDatasetReference',
  dataset: 'production',
  to: [
    {
      type: 'person',
      preview: {
        select: {
          title: 'name',
          media: 'image',
        },
      },
    },
  ],
  options: {
  filter: ({document}) => {
    // Always make sure to check for document properties
    // before attempting to use them
    if (!document.releaseYear) {
      return {
        filter: 'role == $role',
        params: {role: 'director'}
      }
    }
    
    return {
      filter: 'role == $role && birthYear >= $minYear',
      params: {
        role: 'director',
        minYear: document.releaseYear
      }
    }
  }
}

Output

{
    "_type": "crossDatasetReference",
    "_ref": "person_steven-spielberg",
    "_dataset": "production",
  }

Nonexistent reference

Sometimes the reference field may show an error message like <nonexistent reference>. This usually happens when creating documents with a client library and can mean one of two things:

  • The document with the ID you are referencing does not exist
  • The field does not allow references to the document type of the document ID you tried to reference

Updated on February 13, 2024

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