WPS Parent Record on Windows: Introduction

WPS Parent Record is a field feature in WPS Tables that shows the matching parent record for a child record; this guide covers 4 core tasks, with 4 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	4	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	4	Matches the number of Free rows in the index
Membership-related items	0	Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index
Version limits	None stated	Use the feature in the currently available version

About This Feature

Overview

Parent Record is a field type in WPS Tables that displays the corresponding parent record directly in a child record row, making hierarchical relationships easier to review.

Core capabilities include:

Create a Parent Record field to add a column that displays parent-level information.
View the matching parent record directly from a child record row.
Keep unselected child records after a parent record is deleted, with those child records promoted to the same level as independent records.
View child records, add child records, and drag child records on mobile for basic hierarchy handling.

This feature is useful for task breakdowns, project hierarchies, order-detail tracking, and other structured datasets where parent-child relationships need to stay visible.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
Operating system	A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally
App version	It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office
Network	An internet connection is recommended for online collaboration or sync
Other	You need access to the workspace that contains the table and the required view or edit permissions

Download & Installation

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Check after installation	Open WPS Office, open your table, and confirm that Parent Record appears in the field type list

Source: WPS download page

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	Parent Record can display the matching parent record directly in a child record row inside the same table.	Microsoft Lists supports grouping items by column and can organize a view by one or two columns, but grouping changes display only.	Google Sheets supports grouping rows or columns and lets users expand or collapse grouped data with plus and minus controls.	Notion databases support sub-items, which can show parent and child relationships across database views.	Adobe Acrobat focuses on PDF forms and form fields rather than table-style parent record management.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: Parent information is shown directly in a field within the child row. Distinct: the feature has no membership limit in the available WPS description.	Compared with WPS: grouping is view-based and Microsoft states that grouping only changes how data is displayed.	Compared with WPS: row and column grouping helps organize sheet structure, but it is not a record-field parent display feature.	Compared with WPS: Notion also supports parent-child structure, but it is centered on database item management rather than a direct spreadsheet-style parent field.	Compared with WPS: Acrobat is designed for PDF form workflows, not for table hierarchy display in the same way.
Official Source	—	Use grouping to modify a list or library view	Freeze, group, hide, or merge rows & columns	Sub-items & dependencies	PDF forms help

Overall Conclusion
WPS Parent Record is a practical fit when you want to view parent-child relationships directly inside one table. Microsoft and Google focus more on grouped display, Notion is closer to database sub-item management, and Adobe Acrobat is mainly built for PDF form workflows.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable for	Main challenge	How Parent Record helps
1	Project task breakdown	Project managers and contributors	It is hard to confirm which parent task a subtask belongs to	Add a Parent Record field and view the parent task directly in the child row
2	Order and detail tracking	Operations and sales support teams	Detail rows are not easy to match with the main order	Show the related order information through the Parent Record field
3	Structured data review	Data managers	Hierarchical records take time to identify in a flat table	Use the Parent Record field to identify upper-level relationships faster
4	Basic mobile handling	Mobile users	Only lightweight hierarchy actions are practical on mobile	View child records, add child records, and drag child records on mobile

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Capability	Free users	WPS Premium
Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation core apps	✅ Available	✅ Available
Parent Record field	✅ Available	✅ Available
Basic PDF features	✅ Available	✅ Available
Some advanced PDF editing and broader advanced tools	Limited by feature	✅ Broader access by plan
Cloud storage	1 GB	20 GB or more depending on plan

Source: WPS Office pricing page; Why do I need to pay for WPS Office?

Recommendations

Use case	Recommended plan	Why
You mainly need Parent Record and everyday table organization	Free	Parent Record is available without a membership limit in the feature description
You also need more PDF tools, templates, cloud storage, or broader advanced office features	WPS Premium	A membership is more suitable when your work depends on those additional capabilities

Membership page: Subscribe to WPS Premium

Source: WPS Office pricing page