Automatically Generated Project Codes

By default, project codes are manually supplied during project creation.  Unanet can, however, be configured to automatically generate project codes.  The new codes can be configured with several nodes including a prefix, followed by a separator value, followed by a sequence number.  These nodes are configured using the following properties:

• Project Code Source (unanet.auto.project_code.source) - This is the master property that enables the functionality.  By default, the value is empty and as such project codes are not automatically generated.  Depending on which source value is selected, the system will include an appropriate prefix based on a project's Project Type, Project Organization, Owning Organization or Legal Entity.
   

Note: When the Project Code Source is configured to be Legal Entity, this field will not be displayed when initially creating the organization.  This means, you will need to initially create the organization, mark it as a Legal Entity, save the organization which will make the new fields visible and at that time can you provide and save the Start With value.

• Project Code Separator (unanet.auto.project_code.separator) - The separator value will be inserted between the Source prefix and the Sequence Number for auto-generated project codes.  If no separator character is specified, the Source and Sequence Number will be directly concatenated (with no separator character connecting them).
    
• Project Code Sequence Number Minimum Length (unanet.auto.project_code.sequence_number.min_length) -The final property will determine the minimum length of the sequence number component.  If the current value of the sequence number to be used has fewer digits than this property specifies, the sequence number will be zero-padded to reach the specified minimum length.  For example, if the minimum length were 4, the first number generated would be 0001.  Providing this padding will help with the sorting of projects.

 

When enabled, the Project Code field will be automatically populated (upon Save) when creating a new project (either via the Project Add, Project Copy or when importing a project).  

 

Manually Enter Project Code even when Auto-Generation Enabled

User's having the Administrator role have the option to let the system generate a Project Code for them, or, supply their own Project Code.  When creating a new project, if an Administrative user supplies a Project Code, it will be used, otherwise, when left blank, the Project Code value will be generated upon project save.  Users without the Administrator role, will not have this option and all Project Codes will be generated for them (ie the Project Code field will be grayed out and manual entry prevented).

 

Determining the next value to be used

When this feature is enabled and a new project is saved, the system will determine the next available sequence number to be used by comparing the current highest sequence number recorded plus 1 (for the specific Organization or Project Type) against the current Starts With value saved for that same Organization or Project Type.  The larger of the two values will be used.

 

Managing the next value to be used

Administrators have the ability to modify the Starts With value (either on the Organization or Project Type screen) as well as the original property settings to influence how new project codes will be generated at any time. Care should be taken to avoid modifications that may result in the generation of Project Codes that already exist in the system.  The standard system validations will remain to prevent any attempts at entering duplicate project codes (within a Project Organization).

The Organization Import  and Organization Export can also be used to modify or view the Start With value.