--- title: "🔗Automatic Ordering Part 3: Linking Parent and Child Items" description: Learn how to link bulk and unit items so your stock is tracked accurately — essential for both manual and automatic ordering. --- [Skip to content](https://help.futurenet.com.au/linking-parent-child-items#main-content) [![FNET Logo](https://help.futurenet.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/fnet_logo_isolated-1.png?width=50&height=50&name=fnet_logo_isolated-1.png)](https://www.futurenet.com.au) Open main navigation Close main navigation How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Future Net Help & Support](https://help.futurenet.com.au/?hsLang=en-au) 2. [Inventory](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au) 3. [Automatic Ordering](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#automatic-ordering) 2 January 2026 # 🔗Automatic Ordering Part 3: Linking Parent and Child Items Parent/Child links tell the system how cartons and packs relate — so that stock levels, sales, and orders stay in sync. This isn’t just for automatic ordering. Once a child item is linked to a parent, **all ordering and stock level control is handled by the parent**, whether orders are automatic or manual. #### Example – Carton and Pack: - **Parent** = Carton of cigarettes - **Child** = Single pack of cigarettes When a **pack** (child) is sold or scanned in, the system updates the **carton** (parent) instead. This keeps your stock accurate across different selling and ordering units. --- ### How to set it up - Go to **Printing** →**Item Detail Reports** **![Item Detail Report](https://help.futurenet.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/KB%20Media/Item%20Detail%20Report.gif?width=523&height=387&name=Item%20Detail%20Report.gif)** - Select the department (e.g. ***Tobacco & Cigs***) and preview the report ![ItemDetailReports\_CigsnTobacco](https://help.futurenet.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/KB%20Media/ItemDetailReports_CigsnTobacco.gif?width=454&height=370&name=ItemDetailReports_CigsnTobacco.gif) - Identify your **Parent items** (usually bulk/cartons) and their **Child items** (units/packs) ![Screenshot 2025-09-04 110103](https://help.futurenet.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/KB%20Media/Screenshot%202025-09-04%20110103.png?width=603&height=127&name=Screenshot%202025-09-04%20110103.png) > *In this example, Item 00158492 is the child and Item 00158468 is the parent, usually shown with a size like 200x20.* - Go to **Inventory** → **Items** ![ItemMaint](https://help.futurenet.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/KB%20Media/ItemMaint.gif?width=670&height=357&name=ItemMaint.gif) - For each **Child item**, enter the **Parent’s item number** in the *Parent Item* field ![Parent and Child linking](https://help.futurenet.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/KB%20Media/Parent%20and%20Child%20linking.gif?width=670&height=358&name=Parent%20and%20Child%20linking.gif)   ⚠️ SPAR stores: In SPAR systems, the **pack is the Parent** not the carton. Make sure you reverse the setup. --- ### Why it matters - You’ll only need to order and receive the **parent** item - All stock movements (including sales of child items) are tracked through the parent - It avoids duplication and confusion in stock levels Once linked, the **child item’s stock level is no longer independent**. The system will ignore it — all calculations will run off the parent. --- ### ✅ Once your items are linked You're ready to tell the system how much stock to maintain. Let’s set your Min and Max levels. 👉 [📦 Automatic Ordering Part 4: Setting Minimum and Maximum Stock Levels](https://help.futurenet.com.au/setting-minimum-and-maximum-stock-levels-?hsLang=en-au) - [General](https://help.futurenet.com.au/general?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Licensing](https://help.futurenet.com.au/general?hsLang=en-au#licensing) - [Convenience PDE](https://help.futurenet.com.au/convenience-pde?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Before You Start](https://help.futurenet.com.au/convenience-pde?hsLang=en-au#before-you-start) - [Getting Started](https://help.futurenet.com.au/convenience-pde?hsLang=en-au#getting-started) - [Stock Management](https://help.futurenet.com.au/convenience-pde?hsLang=en-au#stock-management) - [Item Management](https://help.futurenet.com.au/convenience-pde?hsLang=en-au#item-management) - [In-Store Operations](https://help.futurenet.com.au/convenience-pde?hsLang=en-au#in-store-operations) - [System](https://help.futurenet.com.au/convenience-pde?hsLang=en-au#system) - [General Tips](https://help.futurenet.com.au/convenience-pde?hsLang=en-au#general-tips) - [Inventory](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Item Maintenance](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#item-maintenance) - [Fast Price Entry](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#fast-price-entry) - [Promotions](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#promotions) - [Orders/Invoice Entry](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#orders-invoice-entry) - [Automatic Ordering](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#automatic-ordering) - [Recipes](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#recipes) - [Stock Adjustments](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#stock-adjustments) - [Wastage Entry](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#wastage-entry) - [Send Prices to Tills](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#send-prices-to-tills) - [Send to Scales](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#send-to-scales) - [Till and Label Changes](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#till-and-label-changes) - [Manual Sales Entry](https://help.futurenet.com.au/inventory?hsLang=en-au#manual-sales-entry) - [Printing](https://help.futurenet.com.au/printing?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Printing Shelf Talkers](https://help.futurenet.com.au/printing?hsLang=en-au#printing-shelf-talkers) - [Reports](https://help.futurenet.com.au/printing?hsLang=en-au#reports) - [Shelf Labels](https://help.futurenet.com.au/printing?hsLang=en-au#shelf-labels) - [Stocktake](https://help.futurenet.com.au/stocktake?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Stocktake Entry](https://help.futurenet.com.au/stocktake?hsLang=en-au#stocktake-entry) - [Host](https://help.futurenet.com.au/host?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Hosting](https://help.futurenet.com.au/host?hsLang=en-au#hosting) - [Accounts](https://help.futurenet.com.au/accounts?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Accounts Masterfile](https://help.futurenet.com.au/accounts?hsLang=en-au#accounts-masterfile) - [Setup](https://help.futurenet.com.au/setup?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Stores](https://help.futurenet.com.au/setup?hsLang=en-au#stores) - [Cashiers and Users](https://help.futurenet.com.au/setup?hsLang=en-au#cashiers-and-users) - [Tools](https://help.futurenet.com.au/tools?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Min/Max Stock](https://help.futurenet.com.au/tools?hsLang=en-au#min-max-stock) - [Registers](https://help.futurenet.com.au/registers?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [POS Vouchers](https://help.futurenet.com.au/registers?hsLang=en-au#pos-vouchers) - [Controller](https://help.futurenet.com.au/controller?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Inventory Management](https://help.futurenet.com.au/controller?hsLang=en-au#inventory-management) - [Troubleshooting](https://help.futurenet.com.au/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Backoffice](https://help.futurenet.com.au/troubleshooting?hsLang=en-au#backoffice) [![fnet\_logo\_isolated-2](https://help.futurenet.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/fnet_logo_isolated-2.png?width=100&height=100&name=fnet_logo_isolated-2.png "fnet_logo_isolated-2")](https://help.futurenet.com.au/?hsLang=en-au) Copyright © 2025 Future Net Australia Pty Ltd