This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: I would like to know whether I should use a Post Reference field or a Post Relationship, and understand the differences between the two.
Solution: A post reference field is a very simple version of a one-to-many (O2M) relationship. In the database, they are handled identically. The main differences are how they are managed in wp-admin. For example, with a O2M relationship between Clients and Vehicles, you can edit the parent Client post and see all the child Vehicle posts easily in the post relationship editor panel. If you want to disconnect one of the Vehicle posts, you can do it from the Client post. However, with a post reference field, you cannot easily manage the related Vehicles from the Client post. You would have to edit each Vehicle post to change the post reference Client. So if you want more management capabilities in wp-admin, you should use a O2M relationship. If you do not need this type of management, you can use a Post Reference field instead.
If you need the ability to create multiple Client post references in the same Vehicle post, you should use a M2M relationship instead of a repeating post reference field.
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This topic contains 4 replies, has 2 voices.
Last updated by 3 years, 10 months ago.
Assisted by: Christian Cox.
Can I use the Post Reference post type as the "connector" between the two post types in order to get the Client address, phone number, first and last name? How?
Yes, you can use the Post Reference field to access information from a related post. The method you use depends on whether you are using the Block Editor or the legacy editor to design the Vehicle post template. If you are using the Block Editor, you can insert a Fields and Text block in the Vehicles template, then click the icon above the block to insert Fields and Views, and choose one of the Client fields you want to display. See fields-and-text.png for an example.
In the legacy Editor, you would click the Fields and Views button and choose one of the Client fields.
After you have opened the Fields and Views popup in either the legacy editor or the Fields and Text block, click the Post Selection tab, where you will be able to choose "a related post from a post reference field", and choose the Client post reference field. See post-selection.png for an example.
When is it better to use a Post Reference vs a Post Relationship?
Whats the differences?
A post reference field is a very simple version of a one-to-many (O2M) relationship. In the database, they are handled identically. The main differences are how they are managed in wp-admin. For example, with a O2M relationship between Clients and Vehicles, you can edit the parent Client post and see all the child Vehicle posts easily in the post relationship editor panel. If you want to disconnect one of the Vehicle posts, you can do it from the Client post. However, with a post reference field, you cannot easily manage the related Vehicles from the Client post. You would have to edit each Vehicle post to change the post reference Client. So if you want more management capabilities in wp-admin, you should use a O2M relationship. If you do not need this type of management, you can use a Post Reference field instead.
If you need the ability to create multiple Client post references in the same Vehicle post, you should use a M2M relationship instead of a repeating post reference field.
