Shape Links
Shape Links turn static shapes into interactive hubs. Attach a link to a shape, and clicking it in presentation mode opens — in the same tab or a new one — a ServiceNow form, another YouDesign Models board, or any custom URL. It's how you build drill-down navigation across a set of boards, and how stakeholders jump from a high-level overview straight into the detail record.
Default Links on Data Hub Shapes
Every shape bound to a ServiceNow record via the Data Hub automatically has a link back to that record's ServiceNow form. No setup required — drop a Business Application onto the canvas, and clicking it in presentation mode opens the form. This is the baseline behavior.
You can add more links on top of this default, or add links to shapes that aren't Data Hub bound at all.
Adding a Link to a Shape
Select the shape on the canvas.
Open the Data Panel (right-sidebar).
Switch to the Links tab.
Click the + Add Link button.
In the Create new Link dialog:
Pick a link type (see below).
Fill in the destination.
Optionally check Open in a new tab.
Click Save.
Link Types
Five link types are available:
Custom URL
Any external URL
Intranet pages, Jira tickets, Confluence articles, external tools
Board
Another YouDesign Models board
Drill-downs between boards (overview → detail)
Diagram
A specific diagram from the legacy Designer application (where configured)
Bridging to existing ins-pi Designer diagrams
Hierarchy Map
A Hierarchy Map visualization on another board
Jumping to a pre-built hierarchy view of related data
Form
The ServiceNow form for the underlying record (the default on Data Hub shapes)
Always available on data-bound shapes; the standard "open the record" action
Custom URL
Any web URL — an intranet page, a Jira ticket, a Confluence article, an external data source.
Fill in the full URL (
https://...).Use this when the target isn't inside ServiceNow or YouDesign Models.
Board
A link to another YouDesign Models board you have access to.
A board selector dropdown lists all boards visible to you.
This is the mechanism that powers drill-downs: link a high-level overview shape to a more detailed board.
Diagram
A link to a diagram from the legacy Designer application (ins-pi's pre-YouDesign modeling tool), useful in mixed environments where some content still lives in Designer.
Appears only in organizations that have the Designer integration enabled.
The destination opens in the same way Designer diagrams are usually rendered in your instance.
Hierarchy Map
A link directly to a Hierarchy Map visualization on another board, bypassing the board wrapper and opening the visualization itself.
Useful when the useful artifact is the Hierarchy Map view specifically, not the whole board it sits on.
Form (default on Data Hub shapes)
Automatic on every data-bound shape — points at the underlying record's ServiceNow form. No configuration required.
Shows up as a Form chip on the Links tab.
You can hide it visually by pairing it with other links (the presentation-mode pop-over handles multiple links), but it cannot be removed from the shape's link set.
Open in a New Tab
The Open in a new tab checkbox controls whether clicking the link replaces the current view or opens a new browser tab.
Off (default) — the link opens in the same tab (for board links, in the same YouDesign window; for form links, in ServiceNow).
On — link opens in a new tab so the current board stays open.
Use "new tab" when the link is a reference (supporting information you want users to read alongside the board) and same-tab when the link is a navigation (stakeholder should move to the destination).
Following Links in Presentation Mode
Links are active when a board is viewed in Presentation Mode (see Presentation Mode):
One link on the shape — clicking jumps straight to the destination.
Multiple links on the shape — clicking opens a pop-over listing every available link; the user picks which to follow.
Building Drill-Down Navigation
A common pattern: create an overview board that links to detail boards, and optionally link back from each detail board to the overview. Users navigate forward by clicking shapes, and back by clicking a shape labeled "Back to Overview."
Tip: Creating a link to navigate to the board where the user came from can provide an easy way to navigate boards that are related. Add a "back" shape to every detail board that links to the overview.
Example: Capability → Application → Product
Overview board — Business Capability Hierarchy Map.
On each capability, add a board link to a detail board for that capability.
On the detail board, the Business Applications shown each have their default ServiceNow form link plus an optional board link to yet another drill-down (e.g., a Context Map).
A "Back to Overview" shape on every detail board links back to the hierarchy map.
In presentation mode, the whole set becomes navigable without the presenter ever opening a new window.
Managing Existing Links
Each link on a shape shows up as a chip in the Data Panel's Links tab:
Click a chip to edit the link.
Click the small trash/× icon to delete it.
Existing links survive board version changes and are exported with the board.
Limits & Gotchas
Links fire in presentation mode only. In edit mode, clicking the shape selects it (so you can keep editing without accidentally jumping away).
Board-link targets respect sharing. If a user doesn't have access to the target board, the link still appears, but clicking it shows a permission error. Plan drill-down paths around shared board access.
Custom URL links aren't validated. A typo in a URL just fails silently when the user clicks it. Test important links before a presentation.
The default ServiceNow form link can't be removed from a Data Hub shape's configuration — it's a system link. You can hide it visually only if it's paired with other links, where the pop-over logic takes over.
No deep-link parameters. Board links always open the board at its default view; you can't pass a "focus this shape" parameter via a link (use the board's own search or frames instead).
Related
Data Panel — where links are managed
Data Hub — data-bound shapes come with a default link
Presentation Mode — where links are followed
Versioning — links travel with board versions
Sharing — governs whether a linked board is accessible
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