New Attach and Detach Operations in REST Web Services NetSuite

TL;DR Opening

Starting in NetSuite 2026.1, new attach and detach operations in REST web services allow you to define or remove relationships between two record instances, enhancing data connectivity and integration capabilities.

What’s New

The latest update introduces attach and detach operations within the NetSuite REST web services framework. This feature enables developers and administrators to efficiently associate two records, such as linking a contact with a partner or attaching a file to an opportunity. Currently, these operations support only contact and file records.

How It Works

To perform an attach or detach operation, you will need to use the appropriate record types and instance IDs in the URL. The basic structure of the HTTP request for attaching a record looks like this:

/services/rest/record/v1/{recordType}/{recordId}/!attach/{relatedRecordType}/{relatedRecordId}

Examples:

• Attach a Contact to a Customer:
  plaintextCopy

  POST /services/rest/record/v1/customer/660/!attach/contact/106
  Content-Type: application/json
  {
    "role": { "id": "-10" }
  }

• Attach a File to an Opportunity:
  plaintextCopy

  POST /services/rest/record/v1/opportunity/379/!attach/file/398
  Content-Type: application/json
  {}

These requests utilize the POST HTTP method, and the request body permits the inclusion of optional attributes such as the role for contacts. If no attributes are needed, an empty body ({}) can be submitted.

Detach Operations

The detach operations follow a similar structure:

/services/rest/record/v1/{recordType}/{recordId}/!detach/{relatedRecordType}/{relatedRecordId}

External IDs Support

The attach and detach operations also support using external IDs, providing flexibility for developers integrating with external systems.

Who This Affects

• Developers: Need to implement new integrations using the REST API.
• Administrators: Responsible for configuring the integrations and ensuring compliance with data management practices.
• CRM Users: Might utilize this functionality for managing records effectively within the system.

Key Takeaways

• New attach and detach operations in REST web services enable better record management.
• Currently, only contact and file records can be attached or detached.
• These operations support the use of external IDs for enhanced integration capabilities.
• Request bodies can include optional attributes to customize the attachment, improving flexibility in administration.
• The HTTP method for these operations is POST, with clear URL structures for execution.