---
title: "Creating and Configuring References"
description: "References are links that refer to items or accounts in general ledgers, subledgers, and statistical ledgers. References can be used to create derived structures in Lucanet (e.g. a derived IFRS balance sheet). A distinction is made between direct and indirect references."
source_url: https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/consolidation-financial-planning/report-analyze/elements-ledgers-schedules/create-configure-references
language: en
last_updated: 2023-08-16
---
# Creating and Configuring References

Last modified on 20.06.2024

## Overview

References are links that refer to [items](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/glossary.md#item) or [accounts](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/glossary.md#account) in [general ledgers](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/glossary.md#general-ledger), [subledgers](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/glossary.md#subledger), and [statistical ledgers](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/glossary.md#statistical-ledger). References can be used to create derived structures in Lucanet (e.g. a derived IFRS balance sheet). A distinction is made between **direct** and **indirect** references.

- A **direct reference** always contains all subordinate items and accounts of the default item. If a change is made within the structure of the default item, this change will also be applied to the reference.
- In contrast, an **indirect reference** allows exceptions to be defined for the display of the subordinate items and accounts.

## Creating a Reference

To create a reference:

{% stepper %}
{% stepper-step %}
Mark the item or account for which a reference is to be created.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Right-click the name of the item or account and choose **Copy** from the context menu.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Open the ledger or schedule into which the reference is to be pasted.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Right-click the name of the item under which the reference should be added, and choose **Paste as reference** from the context menu.

Context menu command 'Paste as reference'

{% /stepper-step %}
{% /stepper %}
The item or account, including all subitems and subaccounts of the original structure, is pasted under the desired item. Each item and each account that is a reference is marked with an arrow pointing to the right:

References in the fixed asset schedule

{% warning-box %}
- Items or accounts can be pasted as references in a **schedule** only if the items or accounts in the ledger are assigned to the correct transaction type category.
- {% u %}No{% /u %} references can be pasted under items with an **activated debit/credit shift**!
{% /warning-box %}

## Configuring a Reference

To configure a reference:

{% stepper %}
{% stepper-step %}
Navigate to the desired reference.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Right-click the reference and choose **Properties** from the context menu.

{% /stepper-step %}
{% /stepper %}
The following options are available:

### General

'General' tab in the 'Reference properties' dialog

### Description

The following properties and options are available on the **General** tab:

**Type**

Element type

**OID**

**Object identifier** for the element that is automatically generated when creating the element

**Reference source**

Shows the referenced item or account

**Reference name**

Name of the reference

**Reference type**

- **Direct reference to the selected item or account**:This is the default type. Direct references contain all subordinate items and accounts of the referenced item. If a change is made within the structure of the referenced item, this change will also be applied to the reference.
- **Indirect reference to all child items and accounts**: Indirect references do not have to contain all subordinate items and accounts of the referenced item, because individual items and accounts can be removed from the display (see **Child elements** tab).

**Display child elements**

The check box can be deactivated if no child elements are to be displayed.

**Multiply value by -1**

All values of the original item or original account are multiplied by -1 to display the reference.

**Formatting**

Formatting options for display:

**Font color, background color, icon** and if the element is to be **formatted bold**.

### Transaction type

'Transaction type' tab in the 'Reference properties' dialog

### Description

If necessary, change the permitted transaction types for indirect references. The following options are available:

**All**

All transaction types of the item or account for the reference are permitted.

**Individual**

Not all transaction types of the item or account for the reference are permitted.

{% warning-box %}
The **Transaction type** tab is displayed only if the transaction type can be changed.
{% /warning-box %}

### Child elements

'Child elements' tab in the 'Reference properties' dialog

### Description

Which direct child elements of the reference element are not to be displayed in the reference can be defined on the **Child elements** tab. Furthermore, the names of the child elements can be edited. The following columns are displayed in the table:

**Original name**

Name of the original element

**New name**

The name of the original element can be overwritten in the **New name** column.

**Exceptions**

If the **Do not reference** check box is activated, the element will not be displayed in the reference.

{% warning-box %}
The child elements can be edited only if the option **Indirect reference to all child items and accounts** is chosen under **Reference type** on the **General** tab.
{% /warning-box %}

### Number format

{% warning-box %}
The **Number format** tab is only displayed for references in statistical ledgers.
{% /warning-box %}

Number format' tab in the 'Reference properties' dialog

### Description

On the **Number format** tab, the way numbers are displayed can be configured differently from the display settings. The following options are available:

**Apply number format**

Applies the number format that is different from the display settings

**Number display**

Formatting of the displayed values

**Decimal places**

Number of displayed decimal places

{% warning-box %}
Configurations on the **Number format** tab overwrite the number format defined in the [display settings](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/consolidation-financial-planning/report-analyze/display-ledgers-schedules/configure-display-settings.md).

As soon as a deviating number format has been configured, the icon is displayed in the row of the reference.
{% /warning-box %}