Create sequential number prefixes and suffixes

Sequential numbering is a subroutine process of Format Control that automatically adds identifying numbers to database records as they are created for Configuration Management, incident records, or employee records. Prefixes and suffixes are used to embed information in the sequential number and provide additional levels of identification. For example, each device in the database might be described by a logical name in the form of DEV(number)/(device type). For workstations, the device type might be WS. In this case, DEV is the prefix for the sequential number and /WS is the suffix.

For this example, see the task topics linked to below that will allow you to add a subroutine call to the device.workstation form to assign a unique device number to all records added to the file from this form.

To create sequential number prefixes and suffixes:

1. Create a Format Control record with prefixes and suffixes.
2. Add a record with prefixes and suffixes.

Create a Format Control record with prefixes and suffixes

Sequential numbering is a subroutine process of Format Control that automatically adds identifying numbers to database records as they are created for Configuration Management, incident records, or employee records. Prefixes and suffixes are used to embed information in the sequential number and provide additional levels of identification. For example, each device in the database might be described by a logical name in the form of DEV(number)/(device type). For workstations, the device type might be WS. In this case, DEV is the prefix for the sequential number and /WS is the suffix.

To create a format control record with prefixes and suffixes:

1. Click Tailoring > Format Control.
2. Type device.workstation in the Name field of the Format Control Initializations form.
3. Click Search.
4. Click Subroutines in the More Actions menu or click the Subroutines button.

5. Use the following values to complete the Subroutines process:

   Application Name	Add	Before	Error Message
   getnumb.fc	true	true	Sequential number did not process correctly!

   
   

   Names	Definition	Values
   record	The record in which the number is placed. In this example, the device.workstation record.	$file
   name	The sequential number class to be used.	devices
   prompt	The field within the record receiving the sequential number.	logical.name
   string1	The string (prefix) to be added to the front of the sequential number when creating a new number.	DEV
   query	The string (suffix) to be added to the end of the sequential number when creating a new record.	/WS
   text	Defines the sequential number type (number or string). Since characters occur in the number, this must be string.	string
   number1	Determines the length of the sequential number.	val(“4”, 1)

Add a record with prefixes and suffixes

Sequential numbering is a subroutine process of Format Control that automatically adds identifying numbers to database records as they are created for Configuration Management, incident records, or employee records. Prefixes and suffixes are used to embed information in the sequential number and provide additional levels of identification. For example, each device in the database might be described by a logical name in the form of DEV(number)/(device type). For workstations, the device type might be WS. In this case, DEV is the prefix for the sequential number and /WS is the suffix..

To add a record with prefixes and suffixes:

1. Click Tailoring > Database Manager.
2. Type device.workstation in the Form field.
3. Click Search.
4. Add data to the blank Workstation record.

5. Click Add.

   Service Manager adds a complex sequential number to the Asset field before the record is added to the database.

Notice that the complex sequential number DEV0002/WS appears in the Asset field (logical.name). Add another record, and the sequential number advances to DEV0003/WS.

Related concepts

Sequential numbering for Format Control

Create simple sequential numbers