About the case number mask
In the Case Number Format section, you must enter a case number mask. The global case number mask defines the way that the case number is formatted at case creation.
The case number format entered here applies globally for all cases created, except for classes with individual case number masks, see Mask.
The components of the case
number
The global case number mask can be constructed of a number of different components, which are described below.
Information |
Description |
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Number of characters |
The case number can contain up to 30 characters including punctuation marks and blank spaces. |
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Meta data |
In the table below is listed the components of which the case number can consist. Components permitted are meta data and a sequence number. Furthermore, you can see which characters you must enter to include the different components in the case number mask:
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You can define whether the sequence number is to be created with a fixed or a variable format. Fixed format Upper-case signifies a fixed format of the sequence number. The sequence number of the case number is designed to have a fixed number of digits. If the sequence number, for instance, is defined as 4 capital letters such as LLLL. The sequence number of the first case created is 0001. If, for example, the case number mask is defined as: aaaa-gggg-LLLL. Then the case number for a specific case could be 2009-1380-0004. Variable format Lower-case letters signify a variable format. The sequence number of a case number is designed to have only the necessary number of digits. If the sequence number, for instance, is defined as 4 lower-case letters such as llll. The sequence number of the first case created is 1. If for example the case number mask is defined as: aaaa-gggg-llll. The case number for the same case would be 2009-1380-4. |
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Number of characters |
The number of characters in the global case number mask depends on how many digits (or characters) each part of the case number is made up of. The upper limit for the whole case number is 30 characters. Note that punctuation marks and blank spaces are included. |
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Punctuation marks |
The following punctuation marks can be used to separate the different parts of the case number: - - hyphen / - slash . - full stop |
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Conditional information |
Brackets around part of the case number mask signifies that this particular part is only included, when the requirements described below are met:
Mandatory requirements for the classification scheme In the classification scheme, the check box in the cell Fixed SubNumber must be selected, and a value selected in the cell Sub-number type. The value selected defines what domain of sub numbers is attached to the class. |
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Information controlling the sequence number |
To make a separate part of the case number influence how the sequence number is generated, you must use the hash (#) symbol in the case number mask. The hash (#) symbol can be applied in two different ways, with two different results:
If you place a hash (#) symbol in front of default case number information, i.e. class and sub number, the default numbering will be disabled. This means that class and sub number have no influence on the sequence number, which will be generated as a global sequence number. This mask, for example #gggg-#uuuu-LLLLLL, generates the following case numbers: 3270-AAA-000001, 3270-BBBB-000002, 3270-AAA-000003, etc.
You can place a hash (#) symbol in front of responsible organisational unit and case type. This will cause the generation of the sequence number to take this part of the case number into account. For instance, gggg-uuu-#tttt-LLL - the case mask includes case type with a hash (#) symbol. The creation of the sequence number is controlled by the class, the subnumber and the case type selected. Default sequence number By default, primarily the class and secondarily the sub number control how the sequence number is generated. If the case number mask only contains class information, e.g. gggg-LLLL, each class will have its own series of sequence numbers. If the case number mask contains both class and sub number, for example gggg/uuuu-LLLL, each combination of class and subnumber will have its own series of sequence numbers. |
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Fixed information |
You can include fixed information in the case number mask. Fixed information can be inserted into the case number mask in the following ways:
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