Set Up Number Rules

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

To control how your external numbers look and behave, you configure number rules on the Setup > Operations > Number Rules tab. For example, in your rule for tasks, you could say you want each number to be three digits long and start with the prefix "WO-." Once you add a rule, the numbers are included automatically on all new instances of the selected work. They're also included in history and reports.

Add Number Rules

To add a number rule

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

   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.

5. (Optional but recommended) Use the Prefix and Suffix fields to customize the appearance of your numbers for different number rules. These can be any combination of numbers, letters, or symbols, and can even include spaces, but they each can't be more than ten characters long.
6. (Optional) Use the # of Digits field if you want a fixed-length number and want the system to display leading zeroes when necessary.
7. (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 start at 1, preceded by leading zeroes if you specified a number of digits.
8. Click Save Changes.

Edit or Delete Existing Number Rules

Edit 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.

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.

  ExampleLet'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 as well, we still recommend you try to avoid this situation.

To edit a number rule

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

Delete an Existing 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.

To delete a number rule

1. Go to the Setup > Operations > Number Rules tab.
2. From the list, select the number rule you want to delete.
3. Click Delete, the click Delete again in the confirmation message.

Auto-Numbers on Asset Installations

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.

More About Number Rules

Here are some more things to keep in mind:

• If the number of items exceeds the value in the # of Digits field, the system will automatically increase the number of digits to accommodate this.
• Although you can have multiple types per number rule, we don't recommend it because you won't be able to tell the difference between them by the number value.