# Fileset Association types and precedence

There are several ways Filesets may be associated with devices, and the method used will affect activation. This article shares example associations.

<p class="callout info">It does not matter if this is an Association or a Deployment. Each client has one manifest and the below rules apply, however the link between Fileset and Client is established.</p>

## 1:1 Associations

These are direct associations between a Fileset and a device (or clone)

## Standard Association 

Automatically installed without user intervention

![](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/DPzDC9DYKlbSLdtV-embedded-image-xph6203i.png)

In the above image, one Fileset is associated directly with this device; **Type – Standard**

## Kiosk Associations

User initiated installation from the Kiosk Menu Item or System Tray.

![](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/78dCEvAilyPQuywh-embedded-image-lgi9zkzj.png)

In the above image, one Fileset is associated directly with this device; **Type – Kiosk**

## Group Based Associations

These are associations between a Fileset and a Client Group.

The below image shows the same Fileset associated with two different client groups; one group nested inside another group.

![](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/aL1KZJaoQ9n2N9Oq-embedded-image-o3cronsi.png)

This example demonstrates the Keynote Fileset associated with two Client Groups: Test Group and Nested Test Group.

Expected behavior:

- Client 'Hilda' will install Keynote without user intervention
- Client 'FileWave Support - C02DNSB8Q6L4' will have Keynote available to the user via the Kiosk.

The below image provides another more complex example, with more nested groups.

![](https://kb.filewave.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/ijihvSHBjlgvjyMh-embedded-image-tiv0fgzn.png)

Excel Fileset is associated with three groups: Test Group, Nested Test Group, and Double Nested Test Group.

Expected behavior:

- Client 'FileWave Support - C02DNSB8Q6L4' will have Excel available via Kiosk.
- Client 'James Big Sur 11.2.1', 'Andrew\_macOS\_BigSur' and 'Hilda' will install Excel without user intervention.

## Association Distance

Where the same Fileset is associated to a device by more than one path, the device's 'closest' association should win.

- Direct Association to devices is closer than a Direct Association to a Clone
- Association to a parent group is closer than one if its nested groups
- Association to a group is closer than a Clone within that group.

Each association is given a score.

<table id="bkmrk-association-to...-sc" style="width: 41.6049%;"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(251, 238, 184);"><td style="width: 78.4553%;">Association to...

</td><td style="width: 21.5447%;">Score

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 78.4553%;">Device

</td><td style="width: 21.5447%;">0

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 78.4553%;">Device Clone

</td><td style="width: 21.5447%;">1

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 78.4553%;">Static/Smart Group

</td><td style="width: 21.5447%;">2

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 78.4553%;">Clone of Static/Smart Group

</td><td style="width: 21.5447%;">2

</td></tr></tbody></table>

The score is determined starting with the device or clone and working back to the actual association.

## Example

Consider the below Tree Structure:

```
Root

+ Static Group 1 -     2__
                                             |
      + Static Group 2 -     2__
                                                   |
            + Static Group 3 -     2__
                                                         |
                + Smart Group 1 -      2__
                                                               |
                        + clone of device   -  1

+ Static Group 4 - 2__
                                         |
      + Smart Group 2 -  2__
                                                |
            + clone of device - 1
```

Total Scores (lowest score wins):

<table id="bkmrk-association-to...-sc-1" style="width: 60.9877%;"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(251, 238, 184);"><td style="width: 52.9494%;">Association to...

</td><td style="width: 34.6774%;">Scoring

</td><td style="width: 12.3732%;">Total

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 52.9494%;">Static Group 1

</td><td style="width: 34.6774%;">1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2

</td><td style="width: 12.3732%;">9

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 52.9494%;">Static Group 3

</td><td style="width: 34.6774%;">1 + 2 + 2

</td><td style="width: 12.3732%;">5

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 52.9494%;">Smart Group 1

</td><td style="width: 34.6774%;">1 + 2

</td><td style="width: 12.3732%;">3

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 52.9494%;">Clone of device in Smart Group 1

</td><td style="width: 34.6774%;">1

</td><td style="width: 12.3732%;">1

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 52.9494%;">Static Group 4

</td><td style="width: 34.6774%;">1 + 2 + 2

</td><td style="width: 12.3732%;">5

</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 52.9494%;">Smart Group 2

</td><td style="width: 34.6774%;">1 + 2

</td><td style="width: 12.3732%;">3

</td></tr></tbody></table>

As such, an association to Smart Group 1 is closer than Static Group 4.

## Matching Score

Closest always wins; however, where the distance is the same, the highest Association ID will win, which should be the last association created.

Hence, if an association of a Fileset was made to Smart Group 2 and then to Smart Group 1, the association to Smart Group 1 would win, as this equidistant association is the latest and hence will have the highest Association ID.