# 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](/models/work-in-the-app/editor/data-hub.md) 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 1. Select the shape on the canvas. 2. Open the [Data Panel](/models/work-in-the-app/editor/data-inspector.md) (right-sidebar). 3. Switch to the **Links** tab. 4. Click the **+ Add Link** button. 5. In the **Create new Link** dialog: * Pick a **link type** (see below). * Fill in the destination. * Optionally check **Open in a new tab**. 6. Click **Save**.
## Link Types Five link types are available: | Type | What It Links To | When to Use | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **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](/models/work-in-the-app/presentation-mode.md)): * **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 1. **Overview board** — Business Capability Hierarchy Map. 2. On each capability, add a **board link** to a detail board for that capability. 3. 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). 4. 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](/models/work-in-the-app/editor/data-inspector.md) — where links are managed * [Data Hub](/models/work-in-the-app/editor/data-hub.md) — data-bound shapes come with a default link * [Presentation Mode](/models/work-in-the-app/presentation-mode.md) — where links are followed * [Versioning](/models/work-in-the-app/editor/versioning.md) — links travel with board versions * [Sharing](/models/work-in-the-app/editor/sharing.md) — governs whether a linked board is accessible --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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