Vendor management and ID #
I would like to assign unique vendor IDs in a database according to vendor type (independent column) and sequential numbering. Screenshot of what I am trying to produce below.
I have found that the Auto Number column type only accepts a fixed prefix and thus cannot populate different prefixes based on Vendor Type along with its sequential numbering.
What is the best way to do this?
Best Answer
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Hi @LGraf
Have an auto number column with the number only, then have your Vendor ID # combine it with the Vendor Type:
=[Vendor Type]@row +"-"+ [Autonumber column]@row
Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to have a dynamic prefix in the auto number column itself.
Answers
-
Hi @LGraf
Have an auto number column with the number only, then have your Vendor ID # combine it with the Vendor Type:
=[Vendor Type]@row +"-"+ [Autonumber column]@row
Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to have a dynamic prefix in the auto number column itself.
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That works just fine. Good thinking, and thanks very much.
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A follow up thought on this: a real issue is that if a VENDOR TYPE changes then the VENDOR ID # will also change since the formula pulls that data. VENDOR TYPEs get updated regularly when, for example, a vendor starts offering a new service or stops offering an old one.
In the screenshot from my original post, I would like to lock in the VENDOR ID # "LEM-0001" for that vendor regardless of if the VENDOR TYPE. For example, under the current setup, if the VENDOR TYPE changes from LEM to TRANS then the VENDOR ID # will change from LEM-0001 to TRANS-0001. This issue renders the setup unusable.
Is there a way to lock in the VENDOR ID # after it has been initially created? Auto generate does lock the number, which is great.
Thanks very much for your thoughts.
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