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If you have a standard pattern for naming your projects, you can use a template to automatically assign an ID. There are a few rules to make this work:
- It is based on the "next number" approach, where the final part of the new ID is a number that is assigned based on the last number used. The last number is stored based on the template pattern as long as you save the project.
- To use the template, there is a special button to click, so the template is optional. You can still assign any unique ID you wish to use for a project and can override the ID if needed.
- The template can be used as your standard for new projects, or you could use it to create "quote" projects prior sale, then change the ID once the project is "real." The only limitation to this is that you should avoid changing the ID after orders are created (in the Design/Purchasing version).
- Avoid using separators that are illegal in file names (/ \ * ? |), since project IDs are used to create automatic report and export file names.
Warning: Changing any component of an active template will reset the numbering, either starting the new template at '1' or resuming the previous numbering point if the template was used previously. Your template cannnot exceed the length of the Project ID (10 characters)
Template Segments
The template can have up to five segments in the order shown. Unused segments must be preceded with an asterisk (*) and will be ignored.
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cIDPrefix
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Optional: Any characters you want to use as a prefix
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cIDSep1
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Optional: Any standard separator (such as a dash).
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cIDTemplate1
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The first piece of template code
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cIDSep2
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Optional: Separator character
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cIDTemplate2
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Optional: A second piece of template code
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Template Code Options
These special codes are automatically replaced in the template segments (not the prefix) with the appropriate current value.
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YY or YYYY
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Current year
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MM
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Current month
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DD
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Current day of the month
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N
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Sequential number (number of N characters = number of digits) If used, this segment must be last.
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Examples
Template for sequential project IDs based on the year and month.
Example: 202009-001 (1st project of September 2020)
*cIDPrefix = (not used)
*cIDSep1 = (not used)
cIDTemplate1 = YYYYMM
cIDSep2 = -
cIDTemplate2 = 999
Template for auto-assigning a year-based quote ID, with up to 9999 quotes per year.
Example: Q2020.0001
cIDPrefix = Q
*cIDSep1 = (not used)
cIDTemplate1 = YYYY
cIDSep2 = .
cIDTemplate2 = 9999
Procedure
- Create a text file (the easiest method is with Notepad. You can use a word processor software, but you must be sure to save it as a plain text file.
- Copy the text below the heading "Template Text" including the two lines of asterisks, into the text file.
- Remove the beginning "*" for any part of the template you want to use. The parts that start with an asterisk will be ignored.
- Be sure that the numeric part is long enough to accommodate the maximum possible projects (this suggests that the current year should be part of the template).
- Be sure that the total length of the template, including separators, does not exceed the length of the Project ID.
- Save the text file into the data set's "Plugins" folder with this exact name:
ProjIDTemplate.txt
- The next time you open FF&EZ's project screen, you will see a [=] button next to the Project ID field. As long as the Project ID is blank (as would be the case when adding a new project), this button will fill the field with the next available project ID based on your pattern.
Template Text:
************************************************************
*cIDPrefix =
*cIDSep1 =
*cIDTemplate1 =
*cIDSep2 = -
*cIDTemplate2 =
************************************************************
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