diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/DeleteAction.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/DeleteAction.java
index a5028027..17a96091 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/DeleteAction.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/DeleteAction.java
@@ -401,6 +401,7 @@ public class DeleteAction
          if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(associatedKeys))
          {
             DeleteInput nextLevelDeleteInput = new DeleteInput();
+            nextLevelDeleteInput.setFlags(deleteInput.getFlags());
             nextLevelDeleteInput.setTransaction(deleteInput.getTransaction());
             nextLevelDeleteInput.setTableName(association.getAssociatedTableName());
             nextLevelDeleteInput.setPrimaryKeys(associatedKeys);
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/InsertAction.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/InsertAction.java
index 29266e13..e56da2b7 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/InsertAction.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/InsertAction.java
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.AbstractQActionFunction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.ActionHelper;
-import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.QBackendTransaction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.audits.DMLAuditAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.automation.AutomationStatus;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.automation.RecordAutomationStatusUpdater;
@@ -158,7 +157,7 @@ public class InsertAction extends AbstractQActionFunction<InsertInput, InsertOut
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////
       // insert any associations in the input records //
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////
-      manageAssociations(table, insertOutput.getRecords(), insertInput.getTransaction());
+      manageAssociations(table, insertOutput.getRecords(), insertInput);
 
       //////////////////
       // do the audit //
@@ -386,7 +385,7 @@ public class InsertAction extends AbstractQActionFunction<InsertInput, InsertOut
    /*******************************************************************************
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
-   private void manageAssociations(QTableMetaData table, List<QRecord> insertedRecords, QBackendTransaction transaction) throws QException
+   private void manageAssociations(QTableMetaData table, List<QRecord> insertedRecords, InsertInput insertInput) throws QException
    {
       for(Association association : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(table.getAssociations()))
       {
@@ -419,7 +418,8 @@ public class InsertAction extends AbstractQActionFunction<InsertInput, InsertOut
          if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(nextLevelInserts))
          {
             InsertInput nextLevelInsertInput = new InsertInput();
-            nextLevelInsertInput.setTransaction(transaction);
+            nextLevelInsertInput.withFlags(insertInput.getFlags());
+            nextLevelInsertInput.setTransaction(insertInput.getTransaction());
             nextLevelInsertInput.setTableName(association.getAssociatedTableName());
             nextLevelInsertInput.setRecords(nextLevelInserts);
             InsertOutput nextLevelInsertOutput = new InsertAction().execute(nextLevelInsertInput);
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/ReplaceAction.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/ReplaceAction.java
index ca2d1413..d6373fb5 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/ReplaceAction.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/ReplaceAction.java
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ public class ReplaceAction extends AbstractQActionFunction<ReplaceInput, Replace
          InsertInput insertInput = new InsertInput();
          insertInput.setTableName(table.getName());
          insertInput.setRecords(insertList);
+         insertInput.withFlags(input.getFlags());
          insertInput.setTransaction(transaction);
          insertInput.setOmitDmlAudit(input.getOmitDmlAudit());
          InsertOutput insertOutput = new InsertAction().execute(insertInput);
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ public class ReplaceAction extends AbstractQActionFunction<ReplaceInput, Replace
          UpdateInput updateInput = new UpdateInput();
          updateInput.setTableName(table.getName());
          updateInput.setRecords(updateList);
+         updateInput.withFlags(input.getFlags());
          updateInput.setTransaction(transaction);
          updateInput.setOmitDmlAudit(input.getOmitDmlAudit());
          UpdateOutput updateOutput = new UpdateAction().execute(updateInput);
@@ -151,6 +153,7 @@ public class ReplaceAction extends AbstractQActionFunction<ReplaceInput, Replace
             DeleteInput deleteInput = new DeleteInput();
             deleteInput.setTableName(table.getName());
             deleteInput.setQueryFilter(deleteFilter);
+            deleteInput.withFlags(input.getFlags());
             deleteInput.setTransaction(transaction);
             deleteInput.setOmitDmlAudit(input.getOmitDmlAudit());
             DeleteOutput deleteOutput = new DeleteAction().execute(deleteInput);
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/UpdateAction.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/UpdateAction.java
index d3bd6ac5..c5d67644 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/UpdateAction.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/UpdateAction.java
@@ -605,6 +605,7 @@ public class UpdateAction
                {
                   LOG.debug("Deleting associatedRecords", logPair("associatedTable", associatedTable.getName()), logPair("noOfRecords", queryOutput.getRecords().size()));
                   DeleteInput deleteInput = new DeleteInput();
+                  deleteInput.setFlags(updateInput.getFlags());
                   deleteInput.setTransaction(updateInput.getTransaction());
                   deleteInput.setTableName(association.getAssociatedTableName());
                   deleteInput.setPrimaryKeys(queryOutput.getRecords().stream().map(r -> r.getValue(associatedTable.getPrimaryKeyField())).collect(Collectors.toList()));
@@ -617,6 +618,7 @@ public class UpdateAction
                LOG.debug("Updating associatedRecords", logPair("associatedTable", associatedTable.getName()), logPair("noOfRecords", nextLevelUpdates.size()));
                UpdateInput nextLevelUpdateInput = new UpdateInput();
                nextLevelUpdateInput.setTransaction(updateInput.getTransaction());
+               nextLevelUpdateInput.setFlags(updateInput.getFlags());
                nextLevelUpdateInput.setTableName(association.getAssociatedTableName());
                nextLevelUpdateInput.setRecords(nextLevelUpdates);
                UpdateOutput nextLevelUpdateOutput = new UpdateAction().execute(nextLevelUpdateInput);
@@ -627,6 +629,7 @@ public class UpdateAction
                LOG.debug("Inserting associatedRecords", logPair("associatedTable", associatedTable.getName()), logPair("noOfRecords", nextLevelUpdates.size()));
                InsertInput nextLevelInsertInput = new InsertInput();
                nextLevelInsertInput.setTransaction(updateInput.getTransaction());
+               nextLevelInsertInput.setFlags(updateInput.getFlags());
                nextLevelInsertInput.setTableName(association.getAssociatedTableName());
                nextLevelInsertInput.setRecords(nextLevelInserts);
                InsertOutput nextLevelInsertOutput = new InsertAction().execute(nextLevelInsertInput);
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/ActionFlag.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/ActionFlag.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eacb5923
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/ActionFlag.java
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables;
+
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** interface to mark enums (presumably classes too, but the original intent is
+ ** enums) that can be added to insert/update/delete action inputs to flag behaviors
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public interface ActionFlag extends Serializable
+{
+
+}
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/delete/DeleteInput.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/delete/DeleteInput.java
index c7a92518..9c555f53 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/delete/DeleteInput.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/delete/DeleteInput.java
@@ -24,9 +24,12 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.delete;
 
 import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.QBackendTransaction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractTableActionInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.ActionFlag;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.InputSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.QInputSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
@@ -47,6 +50,8 @@ public class DeleteInput extends AbstractTableActionInput
    private boolean omitDmlAudit = false;
    private String  auditContext = null;
 
+   private Set<ActionFlag> flags;
+
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
@@ -295,4 +300,65 @@ public class DeleteInput extends AbstractTableActionInput
       return (this);
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Set<ActionFlag> getFlags()
+   {
+      return (this.flags);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFlags(Set<ActionFlag> flags)
+   {
+      this.flags = flags;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public DeleteInput withFlags(Set<ActionFlag> flags)
+   {
+      this.flags = flags;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public DeleteInput withFlag(ActionFlag flag)
+   {
+      if(this.flags == null)
+      {
+         this.flags = new HashSet<>();
+      }
+      this.flags.add(flag);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public boolean hasFlag(ActionFlag flag)
+   {
+      if(this.flags == null)
+      {
+         return (false);
+      }
+
+      return (this.flags.contains(flag));
+   }
+
 }
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/insert/InsertInput.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/insert/InsertInput.java
index 1753f61f..0bf2d301 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/insert/InsertInput.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/insert/InsertInput.java
@@ -23,9 +23,12 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.insert;
 
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.QBackendTransaction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractTableActionInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.ActionFlag;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.InputSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.QInputSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
@@ -48,6 +51,8 @@ public class InsertInput extends AbstractTableActionInput
    private boolean omitDmlAudit = false;
    private String  auditContext = null;
 
+   private Set<ActionFlag> flags;
+
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
@@ -316,4 +321,65 @@ public class InsertInput extends AbstractTableActionInput
       return (this);
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Set<ActionFlag> getFlags()
+   {
+      return (this.flags);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFlags(Set<ActionFlag> flags)
+   {
+      this.flags = flags;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public InsertInput withFlags(Set<ActionFlag> flags)
+   {
+      this.flags = flags;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public InsertInput withFlag(ActionFlag flag)
+   {
+      if(this.flags == null)
+      {
+         this.flags = new HashSet<>();
+      }
+      this.flags.add(flag);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public boolean hasFlag(ActionFlag flag)
+   {
+      if(this.flags == null)
+      {
+         return (false);
+      }
+
+      return (this.flags.contains(flag));
+   }
+
 }
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/replace/ReplaceInput.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/replace/ReplaceInput.java
index e518dec1..542c8045 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/replace/ReplaceInput.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/replace/ReplaceInput.java
@@ -22,9 +22,12 @@
 package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.replace;
 
 
+import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.QBackendTransaction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractTableActionInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.ActionFlag;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.UniqueKey;
@@ -39,12 +42,14 @@ public class ReplaceInput extends AbstractTableActionInput
    private UniqueKey           key;
    private List<QRecord>       records;
    private QQueryFilter        filter;
-   private boolean performDeletes                 = true;
-   private boolean allowNullKeyValuesToEqual      = false;
-   private boolean setPrimaryKeyInInsertedRecords = false;
+   private boolean             performDeletes                 = true;
+   private boolean             allowNullKeyValuesToEqual      = false;
+   private boolean             setPrimaryKeyInInsertedRecords = false;
 
    private boolean omitDmlAudit = false;
 
+   private Set<ActionFlag> flags;
+
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
@@ -303,4 +308,65 @@ public class ReplaceInput extends AbstractTableActionInput
       return (this);
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Set<ActionFlag> getFlags()
+   {
+      return (this.flags);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFlags(Set<ActionFlag> flags)
+   {
+      this.flags = flags;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public ReplaceInput withFlags(Set<ActionFlag> flags)
+   {
+      this.flags = flags;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public ReplaceInput withFlag(ActionFlag flag)
+   {
+      if(this.flags == null)
+      {
+         this.flags = new HashSet<>();
+      }
+      this.flags.add(flag);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public boolean hasFlag(ActionFlag flag)
+   {
+      if(this.flags == null)
+      {
+         return (false);
+      }
+
+      return (this.flags.contains(flag));
+   }
+
 }
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/update/UpdateInput.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/update/UpdateInput.java
index 767b9ee5..d3645d37 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/update/UpdateInput.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/actions/tables/update/UpdateInput.java
@@ -23,9 +23,12 @@ package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.update;
 
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.QBackendTransaction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.AbstractTableActionInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.ActionFlag;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.InputSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.QInputSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
@@ -56,6 +59,8 @@ public class UpdateInput extends AbstractTableActionInput
    private boolean omitModifyDateUpdate      = false;
    private String  auditContext              = null;
 
+   private Set<ActionFlag> flags;
+
 
 
    /*******************************************************************************
@@ -385,4 +390,65 @@ public class UpdateInput extends AbstractTableActionInput
       return (this);
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Set<ActionFlag> getFlags()
+   {
+      return (this.flags);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setFlags(Set<ActionFlag> flags)
+   {
+      this.flags = flags;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for flags
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public UpdateInput withFlags(Set<ActionFlag> flags)
+   {
+      this.flags = flags;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public UpdateInput withFlag(ActionFlag flag)
+   {
+      if(this.flags == null)
+      {
+         this.flags = new HashSet<>();
+      }
+      this.flags.add(flag);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public boolean hasFlag(ActionFlag flag)
+   {
+      if(this.flags == null)
+      {
+         return (false);
+      }
+
+      return (this.flags.contains(flag));
+   }
+
 }