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Online Documentation: Configuration Manual

Syntax for Automatic Unique ID's, Serial Numbers and Lot Numbers

The system can be configured to automatically assign Unique ID’s (a.k.a. serial numbers or Lot Numbers) to parts. This way the person who is assigning the serial numbers does not have to know what the last assigned number was. Furthermore it prevents errors in the input.

The automated options can be enabled on the NV tab, by clicking the automated UID check mark. After the check mark is clicked, additional input fields will appear.

In the Syntax String input field the syntax for the automated UID can be defined. The string can be build by a combination of the following parts:

  • MM: Month
  • YY: 2 Digit Year
  • YYYY: 4 Digit Year
  • DD: Day of the Month
  • WW: Week
  • N{5}: Numeric Sequencer, in this case 5 digits, padded with leading zero's
  • L{MM}: Escape string to enter literals
  • S{2}: Part Record Sequencer
  • VAR{X}: Add the value of any name-value that is availabe on the Part Record to the string

The Literal is used to prevent conflicts with other characters, so it is possible to use a hyphen without the Literal. But it is better to use Literals (L{xxx}) when you do not want to use any of the formatting strings.

Syntax String Examples for Automated UID


Simple sequence number

String Format: N{1}
Results in: 1, 2, 3...

The number of digits will grow to represent the complete number.

Simple sequencer with leading zero's

String Format: N{5}
Results in: 00001, 00002, 00003

In this case the number of digits is fixed. When the number passes 99999, the counter will reset. If there are no other parts in the syntax string that will make the serial number unique (e.g. date parts, see below), and if the generated serial number already exists, the system will not create the serial number and will notify the user that the syntax string has to be changed.

Adding a literal part

Literal parts can be added anywhere in the syntax definition string, by using 'A' with the literal part between brackets.

Syntax String: L{FAA}N{4}L{-A0}
Results in: FAA0001-A0, FAA0002-A0, FAA0003-A0

Serial Numbers that include date Information

Information of the current date can be included at the moment the serial number is generated. This can be controlled by using the following strings in the UID definition String

  • MM: (2 Digit Month: 01, 02, ... 12)
  • YY: (2 Digit Year: 08, 09, ...)
  • YYYY: (4 Digit Year: 2008, 2009, ...)
  • DD: (Day of the Month: 01, 02, ... 31)
  • WW: (Week number according to ISO 8601)

When Weeks and years are used, the program will change the year (subtract 1) for the first partial week of the year, this way the generated serial numbers will remain in sequence.

String Format: L{FR}YYMML{-}N{4}
Results in: FR0808-0001, FR0808-0002, FR0808-0003 … (provided the current date is somewhere in August 2008)

Serial Numbers that refrence other Part Record Information

Part Records on a Traveler can be part of a Lot e.g. a lot with name 'LT001'. If you want to assign partnumbers like LT001-01, LT001-02, ... to the parts on the Traveler you can do this by taking the following steps:

  1. Assign a Name-Value to the Step Definition of the 'Sequencer' Type.

    This will take care that each Part Record on the Traveler will be assigned a sequence number, starting from 1, 2, 3 ...

  2. Add an Unique ID Name-Value type for the serial number.
  3. Add the Lot Name-Value as a variable (this is similar as adding variables for calculations)
  4. Use the following syntax: VAR{A}L{-}S{2}
    • 'A' is the variable that is added an that refers to the Lot
    • The hyphen is added by L{-}
    • And S{2} refers to the sequencer and will be using 2 digits

Grid Serial Numbers

The grid serial numbers are basically the same as the normal serial Numbers with an additional grid location suffix. In this case you can see the Unique ID as the batch number, lot number or run number.

String Format: L{FAA}N{3}A{-}
Results in the following serial numbers for the first run (Run number FAA001):
FAA001-A1, FAA001-A2, FAA001-A3...
FAA001-B1, FAA001-B2, FAA001-B3...
...
For the second run (Run number FAA002)
FAA002-A1, FAA002-A2, FAA002-A3...
FAA002-B1, FAA002-B2, FAA002-B3...