Creating Your First Connected Lookup

Instructions

Step 1: Create the Source List (Products)

This list contains all products and their categories.
We will filter by Category, so it must exist in this list.

1. Go to Site Contents → New List → name it: Products
2. Create two columns:
   • Electronics
   • Furniture
   • Office Supplies
• Product Name — Single line of text
• Category — Choice with values:
3. Add test items.

📌 Important: The Category column will act as the relationship column that the Connected Lookup uses for filtering.

Step 2: Create the Target List (Orders)

This is the form where the user will select Category and then Product.

1. Create a new list: Orders
2. Create the following columns:
• Category — Choice (same values as in Products)
• Product — Connected Lookup (we will configure next)

Step 3: Add and Configure the Connected Lookup Column

1. Open the Orders
2. Go to List Settings → Add Column.
3. Choose Connected Lookup as the column type.
4. Name the column: Product
5. Select Source List:
   • Source site: Current site
   • Source list: Products
6. Select the value column: Product Name (This is what will appear in the dropdown.)
7. Filter according to parent lookup: Category → Category
   • This tells the Connected Lookup: “Show only products whose Category matches the Category selected in the form.”
8. Additional options (optional)
   • ✔ Allow multiple values (if you want to select multiple values)
   • ✔ Auto-complete mode ((helps when lists are long)
   • ✔ Sort by view (if you have a sorted view)
   • ✔ Allow adding new items (if you want to add new items without leaving the form)
9. Click OK to save.

Step 4: Test the Lookup Behavior

1. Go to the Orders list.
2. Create a new item.
3. Select a Category, for example: Furniture.
4. Open the Product dropdown
5. You should now see:
• Ergonomic Chair
• Office Desk
• 
6. If you choose Electronics, you will see:
• Laptop Pro 15
• Wireless Keyboard

Only products that belong to the selected category will appear.

Step 5: Common Things to Verify (If Something Doesn’t Work)

If your Product lookup column is empty, check:

• Category values must match in both lists
• Source list must have items
• Parent column must be filled before opening Product
• Parent column type must be Choice
• Products list must contain the relationship column (Category)

This solves 95% of user issues.