reusable record numbers

[Gazza2]

I have searched what feels like every thread in thisforum but still cant seem to find anything that meets my requirements so here goes

i have a form that will be printed called picking note.i want a number to be automatically displayed on form entry which cannot be changed and doesnt have to neccesarilly be sequential.Data will be entered into other parts of the form.
thats the easy bit.
once the form is printed then it will be used to pick orders and once the order is picked then the picker can re-open the form on the screen by entering the workfile number and delete or change quantities if needed,once this has been done then it needs to print a delivery note with a number that does have to be sequential starting from 70000.once the delivery note is printed the workfile number is deleted and can be reused as soon as another picking note is printed.The workfile numbers will probably not exceed 200 but expansion may be needed.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[trucktime]

Numbers

Re-use the same numbers can be tricky, especially in case the actual workfile is being kept in the database.

Why not create a unique number that, for instance consists of three components, year, month, sequential no. The 10th workfile in December of this year then would be: 04-12-0010.
The number is still fairly short, you will not run out of unique numbers and it might be handy for tracing information.

If your clients are also being kept in the same database you can also relate the workfile to the client: Clientno-sequential no.

Of course I don't know how your business works, but I thought this is something you may want to think about.

 

[maxmangion]

i have a form that will be printed called picking note

Forms are not meant to be printed ... consider using reports instead.

 

[Gazza2]

To Answer trucktime, the Workfile number will not be stored anywhere for any length of time. I only want to use it so the picking note can be printed and once picked the workfile no will be entered into the system to bring the form onto the screen so details can be changed if needed and the converted into a delivery note.The workfile number will then be deleted.

Thanks for the help so far

maxmangion thanks for the advice ill set that up.