> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fentufsm.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Connect Objects
> Define data structures and field schemas for integration objects
## Overview
Connect Objects define the data structures used for integration. Each Connect Object represents a type of record (like Customers, Products, or Work Orders) and contains fields that can be mapped during inbound or outbound synchronization.
## Connect Object List
The list displays all defined Connect Objects:
| Column | Description |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name** | The Connect Object name (e.g., "SAP BusinessPartners") |
| **Object Type** | The internal object type identifier (e.g., "fsmcustomer") |
| **Actions** | Edit or delete the Connect Object |
### List Features
* **Search** - Filter Connect Objects by name
* **New Button** - Create a new Connect Object
* **Pagination** - Navigate through multiple pages
* **Items per Page** - Choose 5, 10, 25, 50, or 100 items per page
***
## Connect Object Detail View
Clicking on a Connect Object shows its detail view with:
* **Edit Button** - Modify the object settings
* **Delete Button** - Remove the Connect Object
* **Details Tab** - View object information
### Fields Section
The detail view displays all fields defined for this Connect Object in two sections:
1. **Connect Fields** - Fields available for mapping (with New, Edit, Delete buttons)
2. **Listview Fields** - Fields displayed in list views (with New, Edit, Delete buttons)
Each field row shows:
* Field name
* Edit button (pencil icon)
* Delete button (trash icon)
***
## Creating a Connect Object
To create a new Connect Object:
1. Click the **New** button from the list
2. Fill in the required fields
3. Click **Save**
### Fields
| Field | Description | Required |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------ | -------- |
| **Name** | Display name for the Connect Object | Yes |
| **Object Type** | Internal identifier (lowercase, no spaces) | Yes |
| **Description** | Notes about the object's purpose | No |
Use consistent naming conventions. For example, prefix with the source system: "SAP BusinessPartners", "SFDC Contacts", "FSM WorkOrders".
***
## Editing a Connect Object
1. Navigate to the Connect Object detail
2. Click the **Edit** button
3. Modify the fields
4. Click **Save**
| Field | Description |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| **Name** | The display name shown in lists and dropdowns |
| **Object Type** | The internal identifier used in mappings |
| **Description** | Optional notes about the object |
Changing the Object Type may break existing inbound/outbound connections that reference this object. Only modify with caution.
***
## Managing Fields
Each Connect Object contains fields that define the data structure. Fields are used for:
1. **Mapping** - Defining which source fields map to destination fields
2. **List Views** - Showing data in the UI
### Adding Fields
Click the **New** button in either the Connect Fields or Listview Fields section to add a field.
### Import Fields
Click the **Import** button to bulk import fields from a text file. The file should contain one field name per line.
Field import is useful when migrating from another system or when the external API provides a field list.
***
## Connect Fields vs Listview Fields
| Type | Purpose | Used For |
| ------------------- | --------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Connect Fields** | Define all available fields for mapping | Inbound/Outbound field mapping configuration |
| **Listview Fields** | Define fields shown in UI list views | Display in the application's data tables |
Connect Fields contain all fields available for synchronization. Listview Fields are a subset that determines what users see in the interface.
***
## Predefined Object Types
Fentu Connect comes with some predefined object types that map to Fentu FSM entities:
| Object Type | Description | FSM Entity |
| ----------------- | ---------------- | -------------- |
| `fsmcustomer` | Customer records | Customer |
| `fsmworkorder` | Work orders | Work Order |
| `fsmtask` | Work order tasks | Task |
| `fsmtasklineitem` | Task line items | Task Line Item |
| `fsmtime` | Time entries | Time Tracking |
You can also create custom object types for data that doesn't directly map to FSM entities.
***
## Best Practices
When creating Connect Objects, mirror the field structure of your source system. This makes mapping more intuitive and reduces transformation complexity.
Always include unique identifier fields (IDs, codes) that allow records to be matched across systems. These are essential for update operations.
Add descriptions to fields that explain their purpose, especially for fields with non-obvious names or fields that require transformation.
Only add essential fields to Listview Fields. Too many columns make the UI difficult to read and slow to load.
Use consistent field naming conventions across all Connect Objects (e.g., snake\_case or camelCase) to make mappings easier to understand.
***
## Common Questions
Yes, you can create multiple Connect Objects that represent similar data. This is useful when:
* Different systems use different field structures
* You need different views of the same data
* You want to separate test and production objects
Deleting a Connect Object will break any inbound or outbound connections that use it. The connections will fail until they're reconfigured with a different object.
Yes, you can edit fields to change their names. However, changing field names may require updating any inbound/outbound mappings that reference those fields.
For nested data (like addresses within a customer record), you can:
* Flatten the structure by creating individual fields (e.g., `shipping_street`, `shipping_city`)
* Use array fields for repeating structures (e.g., `BPAddresses` array)
* Use formulas to extract specific values from nested structures
***
## Related Documentation
Configure inbound connections using Connect Objects
Configure outbound connections using Connect Objects
Learn how to transform data during mapping
Detailed guide to field mapping configuration