Generate Serial Numbers

Explanation

This activity is used to build a new serial structure that has to be in accordance to its template structure. All structure parts defined to be serialized parts must be given a serial number to complete the structure. If for any reason one or more serial numbers are not known, you may allocate temporary system generated serial numbers to those lacking a serial number. This activity automatically generates a sequence of serial numbers starting with the defined serial base number entered on each part number. The serial generation will start on the selected serial and then work down to all serials on the lower levels. System generated serial numbers may be prefixed. For more information on the serial base number and serial number prefix, refer to the activity Manage Serial Number Generation.

When a new serial is created for the serialized parts in a structure, the part access will be copied to the serial automatically. All the access groups assigned to the new serial can be viewed on the Serial Structure Information/Access tab. If the serial is access controlled, only the users assigned to the access groups that have the Has Access check box selected on this tab, can view and update information on the serial.

When a serial number is generated and a serial is created for a serialized part in the structure, the following will occur in relation to the access control feature:

• The serial will receive the access groups assigned to the template structure to which the serial belongs.
• The new serial will automatically receive the part access for the given serial. 
• If the new serial is defined within a structure, the serial will inherit the serial access groups from the parent serial of the structure.
• If the parent of the new serial does not have a serial number,  the serial will inherit access from the nearest parent that has a serial number in the structure. 

Prerequisites

• Access groups must have been extended to the current serial.
• A serial base number must have been defined per part number.
• When serial numbers are generated, the Owner and Location Code are retrieved from object property settings. The properties used are DEFAULT_OWNER and DEFAULT_LOCATION. For more information on the object properties, refer to the activity Verify or Adjust Default Object Properties.
• The manufacturer's data is retrieved from the preferred manufacturer and must be defined.

System Effects

• All access rights defined for the current serial will be updated on the Serial Structure Information/Access tab.
• Serials that do not have access groups defined can be viewed by all the users.
• The access rights for the serial can be updated by using the right mouse button options on the Serial Structure Information/Access tab. 
• A system generated serial number will be given for structure parts lacking a serial number.
• If the serial rule on the part is set to Automatic, only numerical values will be generated.

Window

Serial Structures
Serial Structure Information

Related Window Descriptions

Generate Serial Numbers
Serial Structure Information
Serial Structure Information/General
Serial Structure Information/Consist Of
Serial Structure Information/Multilevel
Serial Structures
Serial Parts
Part Manufacturers
Manufacturer Part Numbers

Procedure

To generate a serial number and create serials for all serialized parts in a structure

1. Open either the Serial Structure Information window or the Serial Structures window, and query (F3) for the serial structure for which you want to generate serial numbers.
2. Select the Generate Serial Numbers right mouse button option from the header of the window, or from the following tabs:  the Serial Structure Information/General tab, the Serial Structure Information/Consist Of tab, or the Serial Structure Information/Multilevel tab. Note: If you want to generate serial numbers from the above tabs, select a row, right-click and then click Generate Serial Numbers.
   The Generate Serial Numbers dialog box opens. 
3. Select the Generate only for minimum configuration check box if you want the generation to occur only for serial numbers belonging to the structures that are a part of the minimum configuration.
4. In the Manuf. Date field, enter the date to be set on all the new serials that will be created after the generation of the serial numbers. A value will be entered in this field by default, but it can be modified.
5. Select the Manufactured date on all serials check box if you want to use the value in the Manuf. Date field for all the serials in a structure. If you do not select this check box, only life limited parts in the structure will receive the manufactured date. 
6. Enter the ownership for the serials in the structure by selecting a value from the Ownership list.
7. In the Owning Cust. field, click List to select a value. A value in this field can only be selected if a value exists in the Ownership field.
8. Click OK.
   
   

To update the access groups for the serial number, which was generated or created for the serialized parts in a structure.

1. Open the Serial Structure Information window and query (F3) for the serial number of the part you created in the above procedure.
2. Click the Access tab. All the access groups inherited by the selected serial will appear on this tab. The access groups that currently have access to the serial, will have the Has Access check box selected.
3. To either select or clear the Has Access check box, use the following right mouse button options.

• Revoke Access Group for Serial - Select this option if you want to clear the Has Access check box, and thereby deny access to the new serial by the selected access group.
• Grant Access Group for Serial - Select this option if you want to select the Has Access check box, and thereby grant access to the new serial by the selected access group. 

Note: The data on this tab can be updated for serials that are disconnected from a structure and for the topmost serial of the structure.