Configure the Document Number Syntax
In Portal, you have the option to assign each document a Document Number value that is configurable. If you use one or more document numbering standards that are based on document property values and sequential numbers, you can configure the Document Number property to automatically calculate and assign values and enforce the same standard.
For each combination of Document Type, Discipline, and Classification, a unique document number sequence can be generated based on selected document properties. For this sequence to be applied to a document, the properties must be populated on the document. If they are not already populated, the user can enter values and then recalculate the document number. A generated document number can be shown on the Document page. This number is not a part of the file name, and cannot be used for matching documents.
To perform the tasks described on this page, you must be assigned to the Tenant Administrator role.
If you want to synchronize document numbers between Portal and PowerWeb, ask Accruent Support to enable the UseMasterDocNrFromMeridian feature toggle.
View or Edit Document Number Syntax Definition
To view or edit a Document Number syntax definition:
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On the Meridian Portal Landing page, at the bottom of the navigation bar, click the Account Settings icon .
The Account Settings page appears.
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In the menu, click Document Properties.
The Document Properties list appears and shows the properties that are available in your tenancy to all document types.
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Select the Document Number Syntax tab to show the existing syntax definitions.
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To view the syntax for a particular definition, click the down arrow at the end of its row.
The syntax opens below the row.
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To edit the syntax definition, click the Edit icon .
The Edit Document Number Syntax dialog opens.
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Click options or type values using the descriptions in the following table.
Add New Document Number Syntax Definition
To add a new Document Number syntax definition:
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View the list of existing syntax definitions as described in the preceding task.
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Click the Add icon .
The Add Document Number Syntax dialog appears.
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Select the combination of Document type, Discipline, and Classification values for which you want to create the definition.
The dialog expands to show the Classification and custom properties that are available for use in the syntax definition.
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Click options or type values using the descriptions in the following table.
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When you are finished defining the syntax, click Add.
Document Number syntax options
Option | Description |
---|---|
Add properties |
Type consecutive characters that are part of the Property name or the Internal Name of a property that you want to add to the syntax definition. The list of properties refreshes to show the valid matching properties. Select a property to add it to the syntax definition in Added Properties.
|
Add separator |
Type a character that you want to appear as a separator between property values and then click the Add icon to append it to the syntax definition in Added Properties. Only characters that are valid in Windows file names are allowed. |
Add sequence |
Type a number for the length of the sequence number and then click the Add icon to append it to the syntax definition in Added Properties. The minimum character length for the sequence number is 1. You may only add one sequence per syntax definition. To change the existing sequence number length, first remove the existing sequence and then add a new one. To learn more about sequence numbers, see the How Sequence Numbers Work section below. |
Starting Number |
Enter a starting number for the document sequence. The default starting number is 1. If you change the starting number, an audit message is created. The Document Number syntax starting number can be used only once: at the initial configuration of the Document Number Syntax AND before the creation of a new document for the specified Document type, Discipline, and Classification. If there is already a document created for the specified Document type, Discipline, and Classification, Meridian does not consider the starting number. To learn more about sequence numbers, see the How Sequence Numbers Work section below. |
Added Properties |
Shows all elements of the current syntax and an example of a complete document number. To remove an element, click the Remove icon next to the element name. |
Select which properties to include in calculation | Select the check boxes for the properties you want to include in your sequence number. This setting allows you to disregard certain properties in the calculation, while still including them in the document number sequence. |
How Sequence Numbers Work
A document sequence is based on the unique values used in the all document properties used in the document syntax definition. This means that there are unique sequences for every combination of property values in the definition.
Sequence Numbers are optional. If you want to create document numbers without sequence numbers, ask Accruent Support to enable the AllowDocumentNumberWithoutSequence feature toggle.
In the table below, assume the document number syntax definition is equal to "Prop1" + "Prop2" + Sequence + "Prop3".
Value of Prop1 |
Value of Prop2 |
Value of Prop3 |
Generated Document Number |
Explanation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta |
Mechanical |
PID |
Atlanta-Mechanical-001-PID.pdf |
This is the first document created with this specific combination of property values, so it has a sequence number of 001. |
Atlanta |
Mechanical |
PID |
Atlanta-Mechanical-002-PID.pdf |
This is the second document created with this specific combination of property values, so the sequence number has increased to 002. |
Atlanta |
Mechanical |
LD |
Atlanta-Mechanical-001-LD.pdf |
While this document uses the same file name definition as the first two documents, the value of Prop3 is different. Since this is the first document created with this specific combination of property values, it has a sequence number of 001. |
New York |
Mechanical |
LD |
New York-Mechanical-001-LD.pdf |
While this document uses the same file name definition as the first three documents, the value of Prop1 is different. Since this is the first document created with this specific combination of property values, it has a sequence number of 001. |