Data Administration › Auto-number Objects

Auto-number Objects

You can use the auto-numbering feature to automatically name and number objects, like projects and resources. Unique names for investments that conform to your company's conventions can be generated.

You can create auto-numbering schemes that consists of one or more segments of:

• Text
• Alpha-numeric counters (a combination of letters and numbers)
• Numbers

Use the Auto-numbering Objects page to set up an auto-numbering scheme. To view this page, select Auto-numbering from the Data Administration menu.

To set up an auto-numbering scheme you will define each segment separately. For example, the scheme to create a project number such as “PRJ-00001” consists of two segments:

• One for the three-character prefix “PRJ”
• Another segment for the five digit number “000001”

If you use auto-numbering with two or more object types, make sure that generated numbers for different object types are not the same. The system does not ensure that numbers are unique for different types of objects. For example, if you set assets and projects to automatically be numbered with only a numeric numbering scheme, the system could assign the object number “1” to the first asset object and to the first project object. You can avoid duplications by using an alphanumeric numbering scheme such that object types have a unique alphabetic prefix such as “ASSET” for “asset” and “PRJ” for project followed by a numeric counter.

To create an auto-numbering scheme

1. Select Auto-numbering from the Data Administration menu.

   The Auto-numbering Objects page appears.

2. Click the object for which you want to create an auto-numbering scheme.
3. At Scheme Name, enter up to 80 characters for the scheme name. For example, PRJ or INV.
4. Click Save.
5. In the Segments section, click New.
6. At Type of Segment, select one of the following:
   • Text. Creates a segment that contains only letters.
   • Numeric Counter. Creates a segment that contains only numbers.
   • Alpha-Numeric Counter. Creates a segment that contains letters and numbers.
7. If creating a text or alpha-numeric counter, at Text Value enter the characters to use for this segment of the scheme. For example, PRJ.
8. If creating a numeric or alpha-numeric counter, at Counter Starting Number enter the first number to use in the numeric sequence.
9. At Counter Length, select the number of digits to use for the number.
10. Click Submit.
11. To activate this scheme now, at Status select Active.

    When auto-numbering is activated, you will not be able to change objects IDs because the system will create them for you.

12. Click Save.

The next time a resource creates a new project, the object ID will automatically be populated using your numbering scheme.