AutoNumber Columns

AutoNumber columns comprise the AutoNumber values, which may include dates, abbreviations or reset counter option. You may use this type when you need to record orders, tasks or assign numbers to invoices, contracts or other documents.

If a column comprises the data that don't look or behave the way you want, you may edit column General Properties and the properties defined by the column type.

General Properties:

Autonumber General.png

Properties defined by the column type:

Autonumber Column.png

AutoNumber Options

Column Property

Description

Format

This property allows a user to specify the format of the AutoNumber value. The following options are possible:

  • {0} - Sequence number (required parameter). One or more zeros enclosed in curly braces represent the sequence number itself. The number of zeros in the curly braces dictates the minimum number of digits that will be displayed. If the actual number has fewer digits than this, it will be padded with leading zeros. Maximum is 10 digits.

    For example: No formatting. No leading zeros.
    Format: {0}
    Sequence Number
    1 250 5000
    Formatted Number
    1 250 5000

    With leading zeros padded to 3 digits.
    Format: {000}
    Sequence Number
    1 250 5000
    Formatted Number
    001 250 5000
  • {YY} or {YYYY} - Year (optional parameter). 2 or 4 "Y" characters enclosed in curly braces represent the year of the record creation date. You can display 2 digits (e.g., "04") or all 4 digits (e.g., "2004") of the year.
  • {MM} - Month (optional parameter). 2 "M" characters enclosed in curly braces represent the numeric month (e.g., "01" for January, "02" for February) of the record creation date.
  • {DD}- Day (optional parameter). 2 "D" characters enclosed in curly braces represent the numeric day of the month (e.g., "01" to "31" are valid days in January) of the record creation date.


    4-digit year and month used as prefix to number.
    Format: {YYYY}{MM}-{0}
    Sequence Number
    1 250 5000
    Formatted Number
    200504-1 200504-250 200504-5000

    Prefix with "PO# " (including space.)
    Format: PO# {00000000}
    Sequence Number
    1 250 5000
    Formatted Number
    PO# 00000001 PO# 00000250 PO# 00005000
  • {GUID} This format generates unique identifier for each record without using counter
    For example, C3B4DB99E0624A61A916AE2D52721F51

Counter Value

This property allows a user to set an initial value for AutoNumber incrementing. For example, if the Counter Value property is set to 5, the first added record will contain 5 in the column of the AutoNumber type, the second – 6 and so on.

Reset Counter to 1

This property allows a user to define when the counter should be reset to 1. The following options are available:

  • Never
  • Daily
  • Monthly
  • Yearly

Help

When the Help text property is filled in, the question mark is displayed near the field name on the View/Edit form. If you point to this question mark, the pop-up with a tip or a help text message will be shown.

Next: Formula Columns