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 Manage Serial Structure /Access tab. If the serial is access controlled, only the users assigned to the access groups that have the Has Access option enabled 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. 

To generate a serial number and create serials for all serialized parts in a structure, open either the Manage Serial Structure page or the Serial Structures page, and search for the serial structure for which you want to generate serial numbers. Click Serial Structure and then select the option Generate Serial Numbers. You can enter below details in the dialog.

• Define an ownership and an owner for the serials in the structure.
• Enable the Generate only for minimum configuration option if you want the generation to occur only for serial numbers belonging to the structures that are a part of the minimum configuration.
• You can enter a manufactured date to be set for the generated serials. The manufactured date will be set for the LLP (life limited part) serials that are generated. To set the date for all generated serials, you need to enable the Manufactured date on all serials (or only LLPs) option.

To update the access groups for the serial number, which was generated or created for the serialized parts in a structure. Open the Manage Serial Structure page and search for the serial number of the part you created. Click the Access tab. All the access groups inherited by the selected serial will appear on this tab. The Has Access field will be enabled for the access groups that currently have access to the serial. To either enable or disable the Has Access option, the following options must be used,

• Revoke Access Group For Serial - Select this option if you want to disable the Has Access option, 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 enable the Has Access option, and thereby grant access to the new serial by the selected access group.

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