# Recording a distribution's data lineage
Data lineage can be recorded for a distribution via its item editor, capturing what other distribution(s) the item may be informed by or have historically been a part of.
Distribution lineage can also be linked to any data elements that describe a column or field within a distribution via data element paths.
## How to record a distribution's source distribution(s)
1. Navigate to the desired distribution, and select 'Open item editor' from its 'Actions' dropdown.
2. Select the 'Components' tab.
3. Navigate to the 'Provenance' section, then select 'Add'.
4. Select the relevant source distribution(s) from the 'Source Distributions' dropdown.
5. **If you wish to record the distribution's method of generation**, populate the 'Generation' field with the relevant method.
6. **If you wish to record the distribution's release date**, do so using the 'Release Date' dropdown.
6. Select 'Save changes' once satisfied. The lineage details will be recorded on the distribution's item page.
## How to record a distribution's data element path(s)
1. Navigate to the desired distribution, and select 'Open item editor' from its 'Actions' dropdown.
2. Select the 'Components' tab.
3. Navigate to the 'Data Element Path' section, then select 'Add'.
4. Select the relevant data element(s) from the 'Data Element' dropdown.
5. **If you wish to assign this data element a physical data type**, do so using the 'Physical Data Type' dropdown. Physical data types describe the format that this data element takes within the distribution, such as 'Date'.
6. **If you wish to describe the logical path between this data element and distribution**, do so using the 'Logical Path' field. Logical paths contextualise a data element's contribution to a distribution, and are often as simple as the title of a column of data.
7. **If you wish to list object classes that apply to this data element**, do so using the 'Specialisation Classes' field.
8. **If you wish to provide additional information about this data element's inclusion in the distribution**, do so via the 'Specific Information' field.
9. **If you wish to provide any information about this data element's lineage/transformation**, do so via the 'Lineage Details' field.
10. **If you wish to list external data element paths that contributed to the calculation of this data element**, select a distribution from the 'Filter by distribution' dropdown, then a data element path from the 'Select path name' dropdown. Your selections will be added as a list below the selection fields.
11. Select 'Save changes' once satisfied. The data element path(s) will be recorded on the distribution's item page.
**Note:** 'Toggle lineage information' can be selected to show or hide your configured lineage details and relationships (below).
