Is there a custom field that can generate a unique number. We have a use case where we need a unique number generated but leveraging reference numbers on tasks, issues, projects, etc. may not be a sustainable solution. | Adobe Higher Education
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Lila_Whitney
Lila_Whitney
Level 4
June 4, 2021
質問

Is there a custom field that can generate a unique number. We have a use case where we need a unique number generated but leveraging reference numbers on tasks, issues, projects, etc. may not be a sustainable solution.

  • June 4, 2021
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    RandyRoberts
    Community Advisor
    RandyRobertsCommunity Advisor
    Community Advisor
    June 4, 2021

    I've been asking for this for years! I'm sure it's in the idea exchange somewhere.

    It would be perfect for job numbers.

      K
      KevinQu1
      Level 10
      June 7, 2021

      @Lila Whitney‚, a common ask, but no.

      They used to long ago, but changed it so that all objects have unique numbers across objects. It's a really common ask, and there is an Idea Exchange entry going back a couple years:

      https://one.workfront.com/s/idea/0870z000000PSAoAAO/detail

      I even provided an outline of how it might accommodate advanced features.

        L
        Leah28850075mvkt
        Level 5
        June 7, 2021

        It would be a great custom field option! Relying on the reference numbers is NOT sustainable. I was really disappointed when they decided to not make sequential numbers an option. I wish they would look into it again. It is such a COMMON ask.

          L
          Leah28850075mvkt
          Level 5
          June 7, 2021

          Just found this in the Idea Exchange, too: https://one.workfront.com/s/idea/0870z000000XhZOAA0/detail

          Kundanism
          Kundanism
          Level 10
          April 18, 2023

          Hi 

          Finding difficulties to open this link, is link moved elsewhere?

          BR

          Kundan.

          William--
          Community Advisor
          William--Community Advisor
          Community Advisor
          June 8, 2021

          Do you just need the number to be unique, or do you also need it to be sequential? Everyone in the thread is talking about sequential numbers (which is a common request and is possible with Fusion); but if you only need the number to be unique, there are several potential methods and no Fusion required. Happy to share a couple methods that we use if "unique" is the primary requirement.

          If you like my content, please take a moment to view and vote on my Idea Requests: https://tinyurl.com/4rbpr7hf
          K
          KevinQu1
          Level 10
          June 8, 2021

          Unique, sequential, and without Fusion. Such as sequential project numbers.

            Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStore
            Community Advisor
            Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStoreCommunity Advisor
            Community Advisor
            June 8, 2021

            Following this one folks; for years, in fact.

             

            So: having mulled it over a lonnnnng time, this morning, I worked out a solution. It is crude, but effective, and will allow anyone to enter a unique, sequential number without Fusion (i.e. for free). Accordingly, it will come with no support, several cautions, and no apologies...but those for whom it will suffice are welcome to use it As Is.

             

            I will submit it at my earliest opportunity [below]:

             

            Regards,

            Doug

              Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStore
              Community Advisor
              Doug_Den_Hoed__AtAppStoreCommunity Advisor
              Community Advisor
              April 17, 2023

               

              With thanks to my colleague John Mitchell for the nudge...

               

              Here is the sequential numbering technique I mentioned quite some time ago. In this example, imagining a numeric custom parameter called "Project Number" exists on a custom form that is procedurally (and technically) attached to all Projects, and that currently has a maximum value of 10581:

               

              • Create a new Project Report called "Max Project Number"
              • Set the view (e.g. Project Number, Project Name, Owner, etc.)
              • Click the Project Number column in the column settings set Sort By This Column = First and sort it Descending and Summarize this column by Maximum
              • Set the grouping to Entry Date with Group Dates by set to Year and check Collapse this grouping by default
              • Set the filter as desired (e.g. Project Number is Not Null) and consider adding a performance "booster" (e.g. Entry Date greater than $$NOW-7d ago, assuming new projects arrive and get numbered every day, so the most recent will always be within the last 7 days)
              • Skip the chart tab
              • Click the top right Report Settings and set When the Report loads, show the: to Details Tab then click Done
              • Save the report 

              When this example report then runs, it finds all of the Projects entered within the last 7 days, sorts them by Project Number descending, Groups them by year (i.e. usually just one grouping, except at the end of December), and collapses the group(s) to then display the maximum Project Number on that grouping line, which would be 10581.

               

              Sharing such a report to users can then be used as a quick reference: when they are adding a new Project, then can then enter the next number 10582 (manually).

               

              This is a relatively simple solution and does have MANY shortcomings (e.g. data staleness, requires manual page refreshes, lacks data protection, assumes simple sequential numbering, assumes all users have full sharing rights to see all numbers, and many others), so I am neither recommending nor supporting it.

               

              That said, those who need a sequential number but do not have our UberCalc solution (or Fusion) are welcome try it out, in case it is sufficient for your requirements. 

               

              Regards,

              Doug

               

              P.S. When I made my previous post above, I'd used an API "report" (vs "search") to pull the maximum Project Number back as JSON (without needing the Entry Date trick the report uses) and then exposed it in a dashboard using an External Page...but having thought it over today, the above struck me as a far more pleasant experience for end users

               

              cc: note to self @doug_den_hoed__atappstore 

              JMitchell44
              JMitchell44
              Level 2
              April 17, 2023

              Hi Doug!

               

              Awesome, working as intended after testing. Question regarding the max project number of 10581. I tested using 200,000 as a starting point and iterated up to 200001 with the next entry. The report works just as described!

              Is your note above a reference to a max # of total entries to the field? (e.g. using project #200000, only leaves 10580 more possible sequential projects before this field "breaks" making the max possible project number generated in my example #210,580?)

               

              Are we talking a custom-field system rage limit I'm not aware of here? 

               

              Expectations met as far as I am concerned, thank you so much for giving a solution to this pesky problem.

               

              -John 

              C
              ChristineZh
              Level 3
              November 9, 2021

              Piggybacking onto this thread – does anyone know if there's a better way to reference an expense on a project than the crazy long expense ID? It would be great for a PM to be able to reference or check up on the status of an expense using this unique ID.

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