> ## Knowledge Base Index > Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://support.contracthero.com/sitemap.xml > Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further. > Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash). # Tree view: link contracts to one another # Tree view: link contracts to one another *The screenshots in this article show the German interface. The English label is given first, with the German label in square brackets.* ## Your benefit If you have many contracts with the same counterparty or relating to one project, a flat list quickly becomes hard to keep track of. With the tree view [Baumansicht] you assign sub-contracts to their main contract and can expand and collapse them like a folder structure. That saves time searching, avoids duplicate maintenance and makes audits, handovers and termination decisions faster. ## How it works **1. Switching to the tree view** In the contract list (sidebar **„Contracts [Verträge]"**) you will see a toggle at the top: * **Simple view [Einfache Ansicht]** — a flat list of all contracts * **Tree view [Baumansicht]** — a hierarchical display with a parent-child relationship Click **„Tree view [Baumansicht]"** to switch to the tree display. ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/1/2/5/2/12522a019f980500/screenshot-2026-06-16-at-09365_1bqfhgu.png) **2. Recognising linked contracts** Contracts that have subordinate sub-contracts show: * An **arrow icon** to the left of the contract name (for expanding and collapsing) * A **number badge** with the number of linked sub-contracts (e.g. „3" for three subordinate contracts) Click the arrow to expand the subordinate contracts. ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/1/2/5/2/12522a019f980500/screenshot-2026-06-16-at-09375_m30c97.png) **3. Linking contracts in the detail view** Open a contract and switch to the **„Linked [Verknüpft]"** tab on the right. Here you will see: * The **current contract** with its category tag * All **linked contracts** with their category tag, added-by [Hinzugefügt-von] and date [Datum] ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/1/2/5/2/12522a019f980500/screenshot-2026-06-16-at-09392_mw8qdm.png) Use the **„+" icon** in the top right to add further links — and the **magnifying-glass icon** to search for a specific existing contract in the system. ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/1/2/5/2/12522a019f980500/screenshot-2026-06-16-at-09392_acsw87.png) **4. Adding a new link** Click **„+" and then „Link contract [Vertrag verknüpften]".** ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/1/2/5/2/12522a019f980500/screenshot-2026-06-16-at-09404_6d74ln.png) A search then opens: type the title of the target contract and select it from the list of suggestions. The contract appears in the Linked [Verknüpft] list straight away — the link applies in both directions (you also see the connection in the target contract). ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/1/2/5/2/12522a019f980500/screenshot-2026-06-16-at-09431_1yz3mm8.png) **5. Removing a link again** In the Linked [Verknüpft] list you remove an existing connection using the delete icon on the relevant row (the contract itself is kept — only the relationship is removed). ## Frequently asked questions **What is the difference between „Linked [Verknüpft]" and a sub-contract in the tree view [Baumansicht]?** It is the same concept from two perspectives: the **tree view [Baumansicht]** shows the links visually as a hierarchy in the contract list, while the **„Linked [Verknüpft]" tab** inside a contract lists them for that single document. **Can a contract have more than one parent contract?** Yes. ContractHero allows cross-links — an annex can belong to several framework agreements. In the tree view it then appears under both parents. **How deep can the hierarchy go?** There is no hard limit. Several levels are possible (framework agreement → individual order → side agreement → annex). From around three levels onwards it becomes challenging to keep an overview — only use deep hierarchies where they genuinely add value. **Are permissions inherited?** No. The visibility of a contract is still determined by **category and team**, not by its position in the tree. Anyone without access to a sub-contract will not see it in the tree view either. **What happens to links if I delete a contract?** When a contract is deleted, its links are removed automatically. The other contracts are kept — but the connection disappears from their „Linked [Verknüpft]" list. **Can I create links in bulk?** At the moment links are created per contract. If you want to carry over hundreds of links from an existing portfolio, talk to us — we can help with the initial setup. **Do links affect reminders or approvals?** No. Reminders, approval rules and tasks apply **per contract** — a link is purely a viewing relationship, not a workflow trigger. ## Good to know * **A clear naming convention saves days.** If all sub-contracts follow the pattern „
— ", you will find them quickly when linking — and audits run more cleanly. * **Main contract = container, sub-contract = content.** Treat framework agreements as the umbrella and store the specific terms (prices, volumes) in the sub-contracts. That keeps the framework agreement stable even when individual orders change. * **Not everything has to go into the tree.** Linking is helpful for contracts that genuinely belong together — a coincidental similarity (same supplier, but independent contracts) does not need a connection. Otherwise the tree quickly becomes overgrown. * **The simple view remains better for searching.** If you are looking for one specific contract or need a bulk export, the simple view [Einfache Ansicht] is usually faster. The tree view is particularly suited to getting an overview and preparing for audits. * **We support you with the setup.** During onboarding we help you define a sensible hierarchy for your most important contract types — with large framework agreements and many individual orders in particular, it pays to set this up properly once. ## Related articles * How do I add contracts to ContractHero? * How do I edit contracts? * How can I assign multiple documents to a contract? * How does task management work?