Understanding Document Relationships
Contracts often don’t exist in isolation. They have amendments, addendums, side letters, and related agreements. Smart Drive’s relationship feature helps you track these connections.Relationship Types
Parent-Child Relationships
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Amendment | Modifies terms of the parent contract |
| Addendum | Adds new terms to the parent contract |
| Side Letter | Separate agreement modifying specific terms |
| Exhibit/Schedule | Attached document referenced by parent |
Peer Relationships
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Related Agreement | Connected but independent contract |
| Supersedes | Replaces a previous contract |
| Superseded By | Has been replaced by another contract |
Entity Relationships
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Same Entity | Other contracts with the same party |
| Related Entity | Contracts with affiliated companies |
Creating Relationships
From the Document View
From the Relationships View
Auto-Detected Relationships
Smart Drive can automatically detect potential relationships based on:- Document names - Files with similar names
- Entities - Contracts involving the same parties
- References - When contracts mention other agreement numbers
- Dates - Contracts executed around the same time
Auto-detected relationships are shown as suggestions. Review and confirm them to make them permanent.
Viewing Relationships
Relationship Graph
The relationship graph provides a visual view of how documents are connected. Navigate the graph by:- Click on a node to view document details
- Drag to pan around
- Scroll to zoom in/out
- Double-click to center on a document
Relationship List
The list view shows relationships in a table format with:- Source document
- Relationship type
- Target document
- Date created
- Created by
Managing Relationships
Editing a Relationship
Removing a Relationship
Relationship Impact
When documents are related, certain features are enhanced:Term Inheritance
- Amendments can show original terms with changes highlighted
- Side letters display which terms they modify
- Exhibits are accessible from the parent document
Timeline Integration
Related documents appear together in timeline views, showing:- Original execution date
- Amendment dates
- Current effective terms
Search & Filtering
Find all related documents by:- Searching for the parent contract
- Filtering by relationship type
- Viewing entity’s complete contract history
Best Practices
Link amendments immediately
Link amendments immediately
When uploading amendments, link them to the parent contract right away to maintain clear history.
Use consistent relationship types
Use consistent relationship types
Use the correct relationship type (amendment vs side letter) for accurate term tracking.
Review auto-detected suggestions
Review auto-detected suggestions
Regularly review and confirm or dismiss auto-detected relationship suggestions.
Document supersession clearly
Document supersession clearly
When a new contract replaces an old one, use the “Supersedes” relationship type.
Next Steps
Timeline
Learn how to track contract dates and expirations.