# Create and Manage Fileset Associations Use FileWave Central's **Associations** pane to connect Filesets with Clients, device groups, Smart Groups, and clones. The pane also controls deployment timing, Kiosk availability, deactivation, and removal behavior. ![Dos5GdVW083zMe9r-embedded-image-ol1r77ka.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/Dos5GdVW083zMe9r-embedded-image-ol1r77ka.png) An **association** is the link between a Fileset and a Client or group. FileWave distributes the Fileset according to the settings on the winning association. ## Basic association workflow Select a Fileset, associate it with a Client or group, then update the Model. 1. You choose a Fileset from the upper right pane: ![Ryb725QAsKt252Am-embedded-image-ps3hpre8.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/Ryb725QAsKt252Am-embedded-image-ps3hpre8.png) 1. Drag the Fileset into the Clients pane and drop it on the target Client or group. ![3BhKfP7eKpeFv1DD-embedded-image-nwjlzygy.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/3BhKfP7eKpeFv1DD-embedded-image-nwjlzygy.png) 1. Select **Update Model**, or use *Command-U* on macOS or *Ctrl-U* on Windows, to publish the association. ## Customizing the Association After the Model update, the Client receives a new manifest at check-in. It compares that manifest with its local catalog and builds a work list for changes such as downloading, activating, deactivating, or removing Filesets. Edit the association when you need staged downloads, an activation window, Kiosk availability, or a defined deactivation and removal schedule. ## View associations for one Client or group Right-click a Client or group and choose **Show Associated Fileset** to see its direct associations. Filesets inherited through a parent group, Smart Group, or clone may not appear in that direct view. If a Client receives a Fileset you cannot find there, select the Fileset and show all of its associations instead. ## View Clients associated with one Fileset Select a Fileset and show all associations to trace every Client, group, Smart Group, or clone path that can deliver it. ## Searching and filtering the Associations window Another powerful function is in the Search / Filter window. You can enter any text into the Search window, press *Return,* then choose the criteria for your view of any association that is active. Your criteria can be to look for a Fileset with that text, a client, Group or Clone, a Fileset ID, of Fileset type (such as Kiosk), or just select *All Columns* to let the search find every association that has that text in it no matter what it applies to. ![8F7bhED9Y7n68uq1-embedded-image-ndzmsy9g.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/8F7bhED9Y7n68uq1-embedded-image-ndzmsy9g.png) ## Editing the Association Another capability of the Associations window is the ability to edit Fileset associations. Within this functionality, you have the power to designate the deployment schedule, change the type of Fileset from standard to self-service Kiosk, and choose when the Fileset is deactivated and removed from the client. ![Ww0T9RfKonyvSvFJ-embedded-image-rya4wrpb.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/Ww0T9RfKonyvSvFJ-embedded-image-rya4wrpb.png) ![peIvRsBjr3IMX0XJ-embedded-image-96fotvtr.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/peIvRsBjr3IMX0XJ-embedded-image-96fotvtr.png) There are two Edit windows available, depending on the type of Fileset being deployed. Most computer and Android Filesets have the ability to designate a full range of settings: - ***Start downloading at*** – This tells the Client to start downloading the Fileset at a specific date and time. The Fileset will be downloaded and cached locally, but is inert; i.e., it will have no impact on the Client (other than storage space on the drive) until it is activated. This allows the FileWave administrator to pre-stage Filesets out on clients using a staggered deployment schedule prior to activation. Using a staggered schedule would allow systems administrators to minimize network traffic bottlenecks when distributing large deployment sets. This action can also be used when you have staged a Fileset that is still being tested, and there was a problem with the test results. Instead of having to reset devices, you just delete the Fileset prior to activation. - ***Activate files at*** – This tells the Client when (date and time) to activate the Fileset. Installers will run, shell scripts will execute, and any files will be placed into their proper places. Since this command is only a signal to the client to have the Fileset perform its action, the network traffic is minimal. - ***Make files inactive at*** – This tells the Client to locate and move all components of that Fileset back into the local cache, so that the Fileset no longer has an effect on the operation of the Client computer or device. - ***Delete files at*** – This tells the Client to delete the Fileset at a specific date and time. - ***Kiosk Association*** – This converts the Fileset from a standard distribution to a self-service Kiosk item. Filesets that have been distributed as standard items can be converted to Kiosk mode and vice versa. iOS Filesets can be installed, deleted, and changed to Kiosk items. Apple iBooks can be installed by time or changed to be Kiosk items. iBooks cannot be deleted - once deployed, they are the property of the end user. ## Apple Apps and Books license distribution For an Apple Apps and Books app, **License Distribution** controls whether managed-distribution licenses are assigned to devices or users. Device assignment is available only when the app supports it. Set the default user or device licensing method in FileWave Central Preferences, then override it per Fileset when the app supports both methods. In the older example below, *Assign License to Device* is unavailable for an app that supports user assignment only. ![Apple app association with user license assignment](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/i1ksVKJqYBuDCqvM-embedded-image-h7myo0gg.png) ![Apple app association with device license option unavailable](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/10TjTovW7XHHF8yM-embedded-image-ambcuous.png)

Note: If you want to provide custom settings for deployment times to a large number of Filesets, using a Fileset Group is the best way to achieve this goal. Filesets within Fileset Groups that are associated to Clients or Client Groups will all get the same settings you designate with the *Edit Association* pane for that Group.

## Set a reboot deadline For a Fileset that requires a reboot, set a deadline in the **Associations** editor. You can apply the deadline to one Fileset or a Fileset Group. At the deadline, the device restarts to complete the installation, so plan the schedule and user communication before deployment. ![eBPDebjdjD0hnXNA-embedded-image-1lvi4t5g.png](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/eBPDebjdjD0hnXNA-embedded-image-1lvi4t5g.png) ## Association Tools The tools and actions available to associations allow you to see the various aspects of the association: - ***Reveal Client/Group/Clone*** – This displays and highlights the Client/Group/Clone related to this association in the upper-left portion of the window. - ***Show all Associations of this Client/Group/Clone*** – This displays and highlights all associations related to the client/Group/Clone in the lower portion of window. - ***Reveal Fileset*** – This displays and highlights the Fileset in the upper-right portion of window. - ***Open Fileset*** – This displays the contents of the Fileset (same as double-clicking on Fileset in the Filesets view). - ***Open Fileset Report Window*** – This displays the report showing the status of a Fileset, Filesets, or Fileset Group's distribution. - ***Show all Associations of this Fileset*** – This displays all of the Clients associated with this Fileset - ***Delete Association(s)*** – This removes the linkage between the Client/Group and the Fileset. In most cases, this will result in the Fileset contents being removed from the Client/Group. With VPP managed distribution, the license is revoked and added back to the list of available licenses. ## Association Conflict Resolution The algorithm for computing which Client receive which associations is quite complex. As a result, you may end up "double associating" a Fileset to a Client (e.g. if it is cloned into two Groups, both Groups are associated with the same Fileset). We have solved this issue by allowing only one Association-Fileset-Client chain. A Fileset can only be associated to a client via one Association. The chosen Association's commands will be followed, and all other associations ignored. The "winner" association is determined by *association* *distance*. ## Association Distance The FileWave Server resolves conflicting associations by choosing the most direct association. For example, an association directly from a Fileset to a Client is more direct than to its Group, and an association to a Client's direct parent is closer than an association to its grandparent. Clones also increase distance. **Closer** associations always win. **Equidistant** Associations are treated by ID-descending, meaning that new associations (higher ID numbers) beat older ones. This is discussed further in [Fileset Association types and precedence](https://kb.filewave.com/books/filesets-payloads/page/fileset-association-types-and-precedence "Fileset Association types and precedence"). ## Smart Groups Smart Group associations are calculated separately, following the same distance method. However, if a Client is associated by both a Smart Group and a regular association, the regular association will always win. When you view Associations, you will only see the Filesets that are directly associated with that Client or Group. Associations made to a Smart Group will not show up when viewing the Client associations and vice versa. ## Imaging associations Imaging Filesets and their associations are covered in [Network Imaging / IVS](https://kb.filewave.com/books/network-imaging-ivs "Network Imaging / IVS").