---
title: Related entries
slug: commerce-connect-14/docs/related-entries
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-23T10:25:35.210Z
---

Related entries are represented by the `EPiServer.Commerce.Catalog.Linking.Association` class and administered using the `EPiServer.Commerce.Catalog.Linking.IAssociationRepository` service.

The `Target` property of the `Association` contains the `ContentReference` of the related entry. The class also has a `EPiServer.Commerce.Catalog.Linking.AssociationGroup` (defined by its `Nameproperty`) describing a grouping of several related entries, and an `EPiServer.Commerce.Catalog.Linking.AssociationType` (defined by its `Id` property) describing the type of the relation.

These three properties, together with the `Source ContentReference` (the item that has the related item) together uniquely define a related item, that is, there can not be two `Association` objects with all these values equal.

```csharp
public IEnumerable<Association> ListAssociations(ContentReference referenceToEntry)
      {
        var associationRepository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance<IAssociationRepository>();
        var associations = associationRepository.GetAssociations(referenceToEntry);
        return associations;
      }
```

## Get related entries for an entry

By calling the `GetAssociations` method of `IAssociationRepository` with the `ContentReference` of an entry, you get all the related entries. The related entries are returned as `Association` instances.

```csharp
public IEnumerable<Association> ListAssociations(ContentReference referenceToEntry)
      {
        var associationRepository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance<IAssociationRepository>();
        var associations = associationRepository.GetAssociations(referenceToEntry);
        return associations;
      }
```

### Add a related entry to an entry

Use the UpdateAssociations method or `UpdateAssociation` extension method of `IAssocitionRepository` to add `Association` objects to describe a new relation to an entry. The entry must have a `Target ContentReference`, a `Source ContentReference`, an `AssociationGroup` and an `AssociationType`. The `AssociationGroup` class has a `DefaultName` property you can use as name of the group, and the `AssociationType` class has a `DefaultId` property you can use as `id` of the type.

```csharp
public void AddAssociation(ContentReference referenceToEntry, ContentReference referenceToRelatedEntry)
      {
        var associationRepository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance<IAssociationRepository>();
        var newAssociation = new Association
          {
            Group = new AssociationGroup
              {
                Name = "CrossSell",
                Description = "",
                SortOrder = 100
              },
            SortOrder = 100,
            Source = referenceToEntry,
            Target = referenceToRelatedEntry,
            Type = new AssociationType
              {
                Id = AssociationType.DefaultTypeId,
                Description = ""
              }
          };
        associationRepository.UpdateAssociation(newAssociation);
      }
```

### Remove a related entry from an entry

To remove a related item, call the `RemoveAssociations` method or the `RemoveAssociation` extension method of `IAssociationRepository` with an `Association` object matching an existing related item. You can construct a matching object, or use `GetAssociations` to get the existing `Associations`, to filter out the object you want to remove and pass it to `RemoveAssociation`.

```csharp
public void RemoveAssociation(ContentReference referenceToEntry, ContentReference referenceToRelatedEntry)
      {
        var associationRepository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance<IAssociationRepository>();
        // Define an association matching the one to remove, or use
        // GetAssociations to find the one you want to remove and pass that to
        // RemoveAssociation
        var relationToRemove = new Association
          {
            // Group with name is required to match the correct association
            Group = new AssociationGroup
              {
                Name = "CrossSell"
              },
            // Source is required here to match the correct association
            Source = referenceToEntry,
            Target = referenceToRelatedEntry,
            // Type with id is required to match the correct association
            Type = new AssociationType
              {
                Id = AssociationType.DefaultTypeId
              }
          };
        // Removes matching Association, or no action if no match exists
        associationRepository.RemoveAssociation(relationToRemove);
      }
```

### Set up available association groups

When marketers are editing related entries, they can select the association type from a list of association groups. Developers can configure the groups available in the dropdown so they match what is used in the site implementation.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/iNqkwGDjBXZnEvCznDOM1-20260723-094556.png)

Populate the list by adding the code as illustrated in the example below. Call that from the Initialize method of your `InitializationModule`.

```csharp
public void AddAssociationGroup(InitializationEngine context)
      {
        // Add predefined selections CrossSell
        // If they already exist nothing will be added
        var associationDefinitionRepository = context.Locate.Advanced.GetInstance<GroupDefinitionRepository<AssociationGroupDefinition>>();
        associationDefinitionRepository.Add(new AssociationGroupDefinition { Name = "CrossSell" });
      }
```