Automatic Resource Numbering

Resource IDs can be generated automatically from within a resource view.

If you leave the ID field blank on the Resource Details dialog box when creating a new resource, Open Plan generates an ID for the new item automatically according to the following rules:

  • If the previous resource ID at a given level is all alphabetic, the program increments alphabetically.
  • If the previous resource ID at a given level is a mixture of alphabetic and numeric characters, the numeric part is incremented numerically.
  • If there is no previous resource ID, the program uses a numeric ID. Therefore, the first ID in the file is numbered "1."

Open Plan attempts to find a pattern in the ID numbering scheme for IDs that are incremented numerically by looking at the last two IDs in the hierarchy. If a pattern can be established, Open Plan uses the pattern when automatically creating a new ID.

For example, assume that your resource file has the following hierarchy:

  • A11
  • A12
  • A13
  • A14
  • A15
  • A20

Open Plan looks at the last two IDs in the hierarchy and determines that there is a difference of 5 between the two. Therefore, if you use automatic numbering to create the next ID, Open Plan creates ID A25.

On the other hand, if there is only one resource ID in the hierarchy and you have Open Plan create the other IDs , it uses the ID’s value as the incremental pattern.

For example, if you enter 12 for the first ID in the hierarchy and then have Open Plan create the remaining IDs, it increments the IDs by 12 resulting in the following hierarchy:

  • 12
  • 24
  • 36
  • 48
  • 60
Attention: For information on using automatic numbering when creating new resources in a spreadsheet view, see Automatic Numbering within a Spreadsheet.