Sequencing Considerations

When using sequencing features, we recommend you consider the following details and ensure your local processes are updated to accommodate them.

Specifying Number Length

When you generate sequence numbers, the length of the number sequence part automatically increases, as required. For example, you specify that a number sequence part has a length of four. The number length remains at four until the sequence number reaches 9999. The next number Foundations generates is 10000.

Ensure the character limit on target fields can accommodate this increase.

Specifying Permissions on Target Fields

We recommend that you do not permit users to edit target fields in order to prevent sequence numbers being manually overridden. If sequence numbers are manually overridden, this might impact the progress of the Generate Sequences scheduled job or create duplicate entries.

Generating Sequence Numbers

Foundations only generates sequence numbers for sequence formats that are enabled.

If you want to generate sequence numbers for more than 50,000 records, we recommend that an administrator creates a Generate Sequences scheduled job.

The data that creates a sequence format is stored in several custom metadata type records. We recommend that you use the features on the Sequences tab to create and edit sequences, rather than editing custom metadata records directly.

Warning:

Do not make changes to the Sequence, Sequence Field, or Sequence Part custom metadata types or their records while the Generate Sequences job is running. Making changes to these items while the job is running can result in sequence numbers being applied incorrectly.

Regenerating Sequence Numbers

Foundations does not overwrite values in target fields when generating sequence numbers. If you need to apply a new sequence number to a record, we recommend you clear the value from the field and run sequencing to generate a sequence number.

Cloning Records That Contain Sequence Numbers

If you clone a record that contains a generated sequence number, Foundations copies the number in the original record to the clone.

If the field that contains the sequence number is marked as unique, an error is displayed when you create a clone. We recommend you clear the value from the field and run sequencing to generate a sequence number for the new record.