Assigning Document Numbers

[todd.richardson]

Hello,

We assign document reference numbers to all of our engineering and product documents for inventory. Our current method does not enforce consistency, and I have been asked to research alternative methods. Can anyone suggest an effective method/system for this?

Thanks in advance.

[Carsten Pedersen]

We use Variables formatted as a value like _#doc#_ , and then we use an external automatic build tool to replace the
text _#doc#_ is the variables xml file.

This is of cause not optimal, but it works. Other ideas or suggestions?

-cpede

[LTinker68]

I created a little database for the engineers here. They can check out various part or document types that each have a 2- or 3-digit acronym. This is followed by numbering that is sequential to each doc type (e.g., AB could have a doc number 00001 and DC could have a doc number 00001). So our documents might be along the lines of AB00001, DC00001, DC00301, ADY00022, etc. (The database doesn't store the leading zeroes -- I add those dynamically when they check out the number or later go back and look up the number.)

Some configuration management or document management tools have built-in document numbering capabilities, but I'm guessing you don't use a tool like that. If you do, then you might want to check out that feature.

BTW, we originally just had a paper logbook where the engineer or author would come and fill out various fields and get the number there, but we switched to a database so it could be used by various locations and be searchable.

[todd.richardson]

Thanks for the feedback. Both ideas are worth pursuing.