Set up number rules for your maintenance and compliance items

In Helm CONNECT, number rules allow you to add external numbers to specific work types, such as work order or purchase order numbers. You can use number rules to add external numbers automatically to tasks, requisitions, corrective actions, inspections, maintenance routines, inventory counts, and forms.

To add a number rule

1. From the Setup menu, select Operations.
2. Click the Number Rules tab.
3. Click New Rule.
4. Use the Name field to enter a name for the number rule.
5. From the Type list, select the type or types of work to which the rule should apply.

   Note A number rule can apply to multiple types of work, but each work type can only have one number rule. You'll see a warning if you select a work type that already has a number rule.

6. (Optional but recommended) Use the Prefix and Suffix fields to customize the appearance of your numbers for different number rules. These can be combinations of numbers, letters, or symbols and can even include spaces, but they each can't be more than ten characters long.
7. (Optional) Use the # of Digits field if you want a fixed-length number and want the system to display leading zeroes when necessary.
8. (Optional) Use the Last Number field to control where the sequence of numbers starts. If you don't specify a number, the system will assume the last number is 0 and begin at 1, preceded by leading zeroes if you specified the number of digits.
9. Click Save Changes.

Can you edit or delete an existing number rule?

Although it's possible to edit or delete an existing number rule, please think carefully before you do, as changes made on shore will also affect the number rules on local asset installations.

Editing a number rule

If you must edit an existing number rule, keep these things in mind:

• Once you edit a number rule, new work will be assigned the updated number rule, but all previous work will keep its original number. In other words, any changes you make to your number rules don't impact numbers that were already assigned.
• If you change the last number value so that it is less than the last number assigned by the system, you could create duplicate numbers for that type of work.

  Example Let's say your most recent task was automatically assigned the number 1000. If you edit your number rule for tasks and enter 999 in the Last Number field, the next task will automatically be assigned the number 1000 again, which means you'll have two tasks with the number 1000. Although you could get around this by changing the prefix or the suffix, we still recommend you try to avoid this situation.

To edit a number rule

1. From the Setup menu, select Operations.
2. Click the Number Rules tab.
3. From the list, select the rule you want to edit, then click Edit.
4. Make any necessary changes.
5. Click Save Changes.

Deleting a number rule

If you must delete an existing number rule, keep these things in mind:

• Once you delete the number rule, new work will no longer be assigned a number. However, any work that already has an assigned number will keep its number. In other words, any changes you make to your number rules don't impact numbers that were already assigned.
• If you delete a number rule, then create a new number rule for the same type of work and make the last number for the new rule less than the last number assigned by the system with the old rule, you could create duplicate numbers for that type of work.

  Example Let's say your most recent inspection was automatically assigned the number 500. If you delete your number rule for inspections, then create a new one and enter 499 in the Last Number field, the next inspection will automatically be assigned the number 500 again, which means you'll have two inspections in your system with the number 500. Although you could get around this by changing the prefix or the suffix as well, we still suggest you try to avoid this situation.

How do external numbers work on your assets?

If you've configured any number rules, your work items will be assigned external numbers automatically, regardless of whether they're completed on shore or on your assets. Work completed on your local asset installations will have an additional number prefix that represents which asset installation completed the work. External numbers generated by asset installations follow their own numbering sequence separate from external numbers generated on shore.