Question

How do you connect different databases in your workflow?

Answer 1

Here's what I use for client work. The same pattern fits most setups.

1. One relation per real-world link. Clients ↔ Projects, Projects ↔ Invoices, Projects ↔ Tasks. Make each relation two-way so you can navigate both directions.
2. Rollups to bring numbers up. For example, a Client's total billed = rollup of Invoices → Amount → Sum. Use a formula like prop("Invoices").filter(current.prop("Status") != "Paid").map(current.prop("Amount")).sum() for "still owed".
3. Linked views instead of copies. On a client page, add /linked view of Projects filtered to that client. Never duplicate a database.
4. Keep the chain short. Rollups only reach one hop, so if you need a value two levels away, roll it up in the middle database first.
5. A home dashboard with linked views (Active projects, Unpaid invoices) ties it together.

If you want to see it working, our free Lite template has Clients ↔ Projects wired up: https://2rds.github.io/freelancer-ops/lite.html?ref=notionanswers (also on the Notion Marketplace: https://www.notion.com/templates/freelancer-ops-lite)