How to Set Up a Many-to-Many Relationship

A many-to-many relationship allows a record to connect to several others and vice versa. One payment can belong to marketing and finance at once, and each department can have many payments.

Where one-to-many is not enough

Plenty of real relationships are not hierarchical, and forcing them into one breaks the data.

An expense shared between two departments
A project involving several teams
A product belonging to multiple categories
A candidate suitable for more than one vacancy

One-to-many versus many-to-many

Type	Meaning	Example
One-to-many	Each child has exactly one parent	Each payment has one supplier
Many-to-many	Records connect freely in both directions	A payment split across several cost centres

How to configure it in Jestor

Open the table in Jestor and add a column, searching for connected.
Choose connected tables rather than connected records — this is the many-to-many option.
Name the field after the related entity, such as cost centre.
Select the related table.
Check the label: if it shows IDs, set the name field as the label on the related table instead.

Why choose Jestor for flexible data models?

Jestor distinguishes connected records from connected tables, which is what makes the difference between one-to-many and many-to-many an explicit choice rather than an accident.

Label selection matters here more than anywhere: a many-to-many field showing sequential IDs is unusable, and switching the label to the name field fixes it in one click on the related table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which option gives many-to-many?

Connected tables, rather than connected records. See jestor.com.

Why does my field show numbers?

The label is set to an ID field — change it to the name on the related table.

Can one expense span two departments?

Yes, that is exactly what this relationship allows.

Video Tutorial: Step by Step

Check out other practical tutorials on the Jestor YouTube channel.

Get to know Jestor

With Jestor, you can automate workflows, connect teams, and build internal systems your way — all without code and powered by AI. Discover Jestor at jestor.com and see how to take your company's operations to a new level of efficiency and control.

How do you choose an AI tool for professional services operations teams in SMBs?

To choose an AI tool for professional services operations teams in SMBs, look for a platform that combines no-code tables for clients, engagements, and documents with AI features that answer messages, read documents, and summarize data, while keeping professionals in control of advice. In Jestor, these pieces work together,

How do you build a business continuity plan for a services firm?

To build a business continuity plan for a services firm, list critical processes and deadlines, identify risks such as system outages or key person absence, define backup options, assign roles, and test the plan. In Jestor, processes, risks, and actions are connected, so the firm keeps serving clients during disruptions.

What is the best way to run IT security awareness training for staff in a services firm?

A practical way to run IT security awareness training for staff in a services firm is to define short training modules, assign them to all staff, track completion, run simulated phishing tests, and schedule refreshers. In Jestor, staff, modules, and results are connected, so security habits become part of the

How do you route website lead forms to the right team in a services firm?

To route website lead forms to the right team in a services firm, ask for the service and company size in the form, route leads automatically to the right team, set response time targets, record follow-ups, and track conversion by source. In Jestor, forms, leads, and teams are connected,