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Relationship Types

What is a Relationship Type?

A Relationship Type defines the nature of a connection between two Assets in Boldo. It describes how two things are related — for example:

  • "is part of" for hierarchical links
  • "enables" for functional dependencies
  • "precedes" for sequencing
  • "affects" for influence or impact

These types form a shared vocabulary across your organisation. They help teams describe interactions clearly and consistently — whether it’s systems, processes, roles, or data flows.

Example: Use “enables” to show that an application makes a business process possible, or “is part of” to indicate that a data flow belongs to a larger process.

Role in the Metamodel

Relationship Types are one of the four pillars of your metamodel, along with:

  • Asset Types
  • Properties
  • Relationships Between Assets

Here’s how it fits together:

  • Relationship Type = what the link means (e.g. enables)
  • Relationship Between Assets = which Asset Types can be linked this way (e.g. Application enables Process)
  • Relationship Instance = a real connection (e.g. Salesforce enables Lead Management)

This separation lets you define your vocabulary once, then reuse it consistently across all your architecture models.

Structure of a Relationship Type

Each Relationship Type in Boldo includes:


Name and Identifier

  • Name: clear, business-friendly term for the relationship (e.g. supports, triggers, uses)
  • Technical ID (slug): a unique reference in the system that won’t change even if the name is edited


Visual Properties

  • Colour: helps you visually group similar types in diagrams
  • Arrow style: controls the direction, start/end markers, and line format

These visual settings make diagrams easier to read and understand — especially when working with complex systems.

Managing Relationship Types

Only organisation administrators can create, edit, or delete Relationship Types.


To create a new Relationship Type:

  1. Go to Organisation → Metamodel
  2. In the Relationships tab, click “Create Relationship Type”
  3. Fill in the form:
    • Name (e.g. Permits, Uses)
    • Colour (for easy diagram readability)
    • Arrow settings (start and end symbols, line style)
  5. Click “Create”

It will now be available when configuring Relationships Between Assets.


To edit a Relationship Type:

  • From the Relationships tab, click the ‘pen’ icon next to the type
  • Make your changes
  • Click “Update” to save

Editing a Relationship Type will not delete or break existing data.


To delete a Relationship Type:

  • Open the edit form
  • Click the ‘bin’ icon
  • Confirm in the dialog box

Tips for Better Relationship Types

  • Start simple: Focus on 5–10 essential types. You can always expand later.
  • Use business language: Pick names that business and tech teams can both understand.
  • Stay consistent: Use the same Relationship Type across all models for similar interactions.
  • Use colour wisely: Group related types with similar colours to improve visual clarity.