Transaction Linkage Map
Complete reference for how NetSuite transactions connect to each other through the createdfrom field and other linkages.
Master Transaction Linkage Diagram
NETSUITE TRANSACTION LINKAGE MAP
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SALES CYCLE
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ QUOTE │ ───▶ │ SALES │ ───▶ │ ITEM │ ───▶ │ INVOICE │ ───▶ │ CUSTOMER │ │
│ │ │ │ ORDER │ │ FULFILL │ │ │ │ PAYMENT │ │
│ └──────────┘ └────┬─────┘ └──────────┘ └────┬─────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ┌──────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ ▼ │
│ │ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ │ CREDIT │ ───▶ │ CUSTOMER │ ───▶ │ CUSTOMER │ │
│ │ │ MEMO │ │ REFUND │ │ DEPOSIT │ │
│ │ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ RMA │ ───▶ Item Receipt (customer return) │
│ └──────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
PURCHASE CYCLE
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ PURCHASE │ ───▶ │ PURCHASE │ ───▶ │ ITEM │ ───▶ │ VENDOR │ ───▶ │ VENDOR │ │
│ │REQUISITION│ │ ORDER │ │ RECEIPT │ │ BILL │ │ PAYMENT │ │
│ └──────────┘ └────┬─────┘ └──────────┘ └────┬─────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ ▼ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ VENDOR │ │ VENDOR │ ───▶ │ VENDOR │ │
│ │ RETURN │ │ CREDIT │ │ REFUND │ │
│ │ AUTH │ │ │ │ │ │
│ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
MANUFACTURING CYCLE
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ WORK │ ───▶ │ WORK │ ───▶ │ WORK │ ───▶ │ WORK │ │
│ │ ORDER │ │ ORDER │ │ ORDER │ │ ORDER │ │
│ │ │ │ ISSUE │ │COMPLETION│ │ CLOSE │ │
│ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ ASSEMBLY │ (One-step: no separate issue/completion) │
│ │ BUILD │ │
│ └──────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
TRANSFER CYCLE
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ TRANSFER │ ───▶ │ ITEM │ ───▶ │ ITEM │ │
│ │ ORDER │ │ FULFILL │ │ RECEIPT │ │
│ │ │ │ (ship) │ │ (receive)│ │
│ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The createdfrom Field
The primary linkage mechanism in NetSuite. Shows parent-child relationship between transactions.
How It Works
CREATEDFROM RELATIONSHIP
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Parent Transaction Child Transaction
┌────────────────────┐ ┌────────────────────┐
│ │ │ │
│ Sales Order │ ─────────────▶│ Invoice │
│ ID: 12345 │ createdfrom │ createdfrom: │
│ │ │ 12345 │
└────────────────────┘ └────────────────────┘
To find children: Search where createdfrom = 12345
To find parent: Read createdfrom field on child record
Common createdfrom Chains
| Start | → | Next | → | Next | → | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quote | → | Sales Order | → | Invoice | → | Payment |
| Sales Order | → | Item Fulfillment | → | Invoice | → | Payment |
| Purchase Order | → | Item Receipt | → | Vendor Bill | → | Payment |
| Requisition | → | Purchase Order | → | Item Receipt | → | Bill |
| Work Order | → | WO Issue | → | WO Completion | → | - |
| Transfer Order | → | Item Fulfillment | → | Item Receipt | → | - |
Sales Cycle Linkages
Standard Sales Path
SALES ORDER LINKAGE DETAIL
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
SALES ORDER #SO-001
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Customer: ABC Corp │
│ Items: Widget (10), Gadget (5) │
│ Total: $1,500 │
└───────────────┬─────────────────────┘
│
┌──────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────┐
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐
│ ITEM FULFILLMENT #IF-001│ │ ITEM FULFILLMENT #IF-002│ │ INVOICE #INV-001 │
│ createdfrom: SO-001 │ │ createdfrom: SO-001 │ │ createdfrom: SO-001 │
│ Items: Widget (10) │ │ Items: Gadget (5) │ │ (Standalone if enabled) │
│ (Partial shipment) │ │ (Remaining items) │ │ │
└───────────┬─────────────┘ └───────────┬─────────────┘ └───────────┬─────────────┘
│ │ │
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
Can also create Can also create CUSTOMER PAYMENT
Invoice from IF Invoice from IF createdfrom: INV-001
(via Apply)
Quote to Cash
QUOTE TO CASH LINKAGE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐
│ QUOTE │ │ SALES ORDER │ │ INVOICE │ │ PAYMENT │
│ #EST-001 │────▶│ #SO-001 │────▶│ #INV-001 │────▶│ #PYMT-001 │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ createdfrom: │ │ createdfrom: │ │ createdfrom: │ │ apply: │
│ (none) │ │ EST-001 │ │ SO-001 │ │ INV-001 │
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
Multiple Quotes → One SO:
┌──────────────┐
│ QUOTE #1 │─────┐
└──────────────┘ │ ┌──────────────┐
├────▶│ SALES ORDER │
┌──────────────┐ │ │ #SO-001 │
│ QUOTE #2 │─────┘ └──────────────┘
└──────────────┘
Returns and Credits
RETURNS LINKAGE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From Invoice:
┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐
│ INVOICE │────▶│ CREDIT MEMO │────▶│ CUSTOMER │
│ #INV-001 │ │ #CM-001 │ │ REFUND │
│ │ │ │ │ #REF-001 │
│ │ │ createdfrom: │ │ │
│ │ │ INV-001 │ │ apply: CM-001│
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
From Sales Order (RMA):
┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐
│ SALES ORDER │────▶│ RMA │────▶│ITEM RECEIPT │────▶│ CREDIT MEMO │
│ #SO-001 │ │ #RMA-001 │ │ (Return) │ │ #CM-001 │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ createdfrom: │ │ createdfrom: │ │ createdfrom: │
│ │ │ SO-001 │ │ RMA-001 │ │ RMA-001 │
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
Purchase Cycle Linkages
Standard Purchase Path
PURCHASE ORDER LINKAGE DETAIL
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REQUISITION #REQ-001
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Requester: John Smith │
│ Items: Laptop (5) │
└───────────────┬─────────────────────┘
│
▼
PURCHASE ORDER #PO-001
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ createdfrom: REQ-001 │
│ Vendor: Dell Inc. │
│ Items: Laptop (5) @ $1,200 │
└───────────────┬─────────────────────┘
│
┌──────────┴──────────┐
│ │
▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐
│ ITEM RECEIPT #IR-001 │ │ ITEM RECEIPT #IR-002 │
│ createdfrom: PO-001 │ │ createdfrom: PO-001 │
│ Items: Laptop (3) │ │ Items: Laptop (2) │
│ (Partial receipt) │ │ (Remaining) │
└───────────┬─────────────┘ └───────────┬─────────────┘
│ │
▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐
│ VENDOR BILL #VB-001 │ │ VENDOR BILL #VB-002 │
│ createdfrom: IR-001 │ │ createdfrom: IR-002 │
│ Amount: $3,600 │ │ Amount: $2,400 │
└───────────┬─────────────┘ └───────────┬─────────────┘
│ │
└──────────────┬─────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ VENDOR PAYMENT #VP-001 │
│ apply: VB-001, VB-002 │
│ Amount: $6,000 │
└─────────────────────────┘
Bill Direct (No Receipt)
BILL DIRECT LINKAGE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐
│ PURCHASE │────▶│ VENDOR BILL │────▶│ VENDOR │
│ ORDER │ │ (Direct) │ │ PAYMENT │
│ #PO-001 │ │ #VB-001 │ │ #VP-001 │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ createdfrom: │ │ apply: │
│ │ │ PO-001 │ │ VB-001 │
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
Note: No Item Receipt - bill creates inventory directly
Vendor Returns
VENDOR RETURN LINKAGE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From Purchase Order:
┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐
│ PURCHASE │────▶│ VENDOR │────▶│ITEM FULFILL │────▶│ VENDOR │
│ ORDER │ │ RETURN │ │ (to Vendor) │ │ CREDIT │
│ #PO-001 │ │ AUTH │ │ │ │ #VC-001 │
│ │ │ #VRA-001 │ │ createdfrom: │ │ │
│ │ │ createdfrom: │ │ VRA-001 │ │ createdfrom: │
│ │ │ PO-001 │ │ │ │ VRA-001 │
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
Manufacturing Linkages
Work Order Flow
WORK ORDER LINKAGE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐
│ WORK ORDER │────▶│ WO ISSUE │────▶│ WO │────▶│ WO CLOSE │
│ #WO-001 │ │ │ │ COMPLETION │ │ │
│ │ │ Components │ │ │ │ (optional) │
│ Assembly: │ │ issued to │ │ Finished │ │ │
│ Widget-FG │ │ production │ │ goods to │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ inventory │ │ │
│ │ │ createdfrom: │ │ createdfrom: │ │ createdfrom: │
│ │ │ WO-001 │ │ WO-001 │ │ WO-001 │
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
Multiple Issues/Completions per Work Order:
WORK ORDER #WO-001 (Qty: 100)
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Assembly Item: Widget-FG │
│ Components: Part-A (200), Part-B (100)│
└───────────────┬─────────────────────┘
│
┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐
│ Issue 1 │ │ Issue 2 │ │ Issue 3 │
│ Qty: 50 │ │ Qty: 30 │ │ Qty: 20 │
└─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────┐
│Complete1│ │Complete2│ │Complete3│
│ Qty: 50 │ │ Qty: 30 │ │ Qty: 20 │
└─────────┘ └─────────┘ └─────────┘
Transfer Order Linkages
TRANSFER ORDER LINKAGE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐
│ TRANSFER ORDER │────▶│ ITEM FULFILLMENT │────▶│ ITEM RECEIPT │
│ #TO-001 │ │ (Shipment) │ │ (At Dest) │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ From: Warehouse A│ │ createdfrom: │ │ createdfrom: │
│ To: Warehouse B │ │ TO-001 │ │ TO-001 │
│ Items: Widget(50)│ │ │ │ │
└──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘
Note: Same Transfer Order is parent of both Fulfillment and Receipt
Querying Transaction Links
SuiteQL Examples
-- Find all children of a transaction
SELECT
id,
tranid,
type,
createdfrom
FROM
transaction
WHERE
createdfrom = 12345 -- Parent transaction ID
-- Find complete chain from Sales Order
SELECT
t.tranid AS document_number,
t.type AS transaction_type,
t.createdfrom,
parent.tranid AS parent_document
FROM
transaction t
LEFT JOIN
transaction parent ON t.createdfrom = parent.id
WHERE
t.id = 12345 -- Start from SO
OR t.createdfrom = 12345 -- Direct children
OR t.createdfrom IN (
SELECT id FROM transaction WHERE createdfrom = 12345
) -- Grandchildren
-- Find all transactions in a chain (recursive-like)
SELECT
level1.tranid AS level_1,
level2.tranid AS level_2,
level3.tranid AS level_3,
level4.tranid AS level_4
FROM
transaction level1
LEFT JOIN
transaction level2 ON level2.createdfrom = level1.id
LEFT JOIN
transaction level3 ON level3.createdfrom = level2.id
LEFT JOIN
transaction level4 ON level4.createdfrom = level3.id
WHERE
level1.id = 12345
Saved Search Approach
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Created From | Parent transaction |
| Created From : Transaction Number | Parent document number |
| Applied To Transaction | For payments |
| Related Records | Custom join to child records |
Special Linkage Types
Payment Application (Not createdfrom)
PAYMENT APPLICATION LINKS
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Payments use "apply" relationship, not createdfrom:
Customer Payment #PYMT-001
├── Applies to: INV-001 ($500)
├── Applies to: INV-002 ($300)
└── Applies to: INV-003 ($200)
Total Applied: $1,000
Query via: transactionline.appliedtotransaction
Intercompany Links
INTERCOMPANY TRANSACTION LINKS
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Intercompany SO:
┌──────────────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────────────┐
│ INTERCOMPANY SO │ │ INTERCOMPANY PO │
│ (Selling Subsidiary) │◄────────▶│ (Buying Subsidiary) │
│ │ Linked │ │
│ Customer: Sub-B (IC) │ │ Vendor: Sub-A (IC) │
└──────────────────────────┘ └──────────────────────────┘
Drop Ship Links
DROP SHIP LINKAGE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
┌──────────────────┐
│ SALES ORDER │──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ #SO-001 │ │
│ │ │
│ Drop Ship Item │ │
└────────┬─────────┘ │
│ │
│ Auto-creates │
▼ │
┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ PURCHASE ORDER │────▶│ ITEM RECEIPT │ │
│ #PO-001 │ │ (at customer) │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ createdfrom: │ │ createdfrom: │ │
│ SO-001 │ │ PO-001 │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ Ship To: │ │ Triggers IF on │◄───────────────┘
│ Customer Address │ │ Sales Order │
└──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘
Linkage Summary Table
| Parent Transaction | Child Transaction | Link Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quote | Sales Order | createdfrom | |
| Sales Order | Item Fulfillment | createdfrom | Multiple allowed |
| Sales Order | Invoice | createdfrom | |
| Item Fulfillment | Invoice | createdfrom | Alternative path |
| Invoice | Credit Memo | createdfrom | |
| Invoice | Customer Payment | apply | Not createdfrom |
| Sales Order | RMA | createdfrom | |
| RMA | Item Receipt | createdfrom | Customer return |
| RMA | Credit Memo | createdfrom | |
| Requisition | Purchase Order | createdfrom | |
| Purchase Order | Item Receipt | createdfrom | Multiple allowed |
| Purchase Order | Vendor Bill | createdfrom | Bill direct |
| Item Receipt | Vendor Bill | createdfrom | Standard path |
| Vendor Bill | Vendor Payment | apply | Not createdfrom |
| Purchase Order | VRA | createdfrom | |
| VRA | Item Fulfillment | createdfrom | Return to vendor |
| VRA | Vendor Credit | createdfrom | |
| Work Order | WO Issue | createdfrom | Multiple allowed |
| Work Order | WO Completion | createdfrom | Multiple allowed |
| Transfer Order | Item Fulfillment | createdfrom | Ship from source |
| Transfer Order | Item Receipt | createdfrom | Receive at dest |
Next Steps
- GL Flow Map - Accounting entries for each transaction
- Inventory Flow Map - Physical inventory movements
- Cash Flow Map - Money movement tracking