| | First Free Numbers (tcmcs0150m000)Use this session to maintain the series defined for the Number Group shown
at the top of the session. Use the Group menu or the Group buttons to list the
series of another number group. Choose ![[...]](../../wh/images/add_new_record_icon.gif) on
the Group menu to enter the
series of a new number group. You can add and remove series, specify the starting number,
and block a series for use. You cannot change a series code. Note If a series is used, you cannot delete it. A series is used
if it is defined for a type of record, regardless wether a number is actually
generated. For example, if, in the Freight Order Control Parameters (fmfoc0100m000) session, series SLS is defined as
the series for freight orders originating from sales orders, series SLS is
used, even if no freight order has yet been generated for this
series. If you have started this session by zooming, you can only
find and select a record. Performance aspects The settings in this session could affect system performance and database growth. For more information, refer to First free numbers. Number Group A group of first free number series that you can assign to a
specific use. For example, you can assign a number group to: - Business partner codes
- Purchase contracts
- Sales orders
- Production orders
- Service orders
- Warehousing orders
- Freight orders
Within a number group you can define multiple series. Each
series is identified by the series code. The series numbers that LN generates consist of
the series code followed by the first free number in the series. Series codes
of the same number group have the same length. Series The series code. Allowed values The series code must have the same number of characters as
defined for this number group's series length in the Number Groups (tcmcs0151m000) session. If the number group is dedicated to a specific use, the
series code must be unique in the number groups dedicated to the same type of
use. Note After saving the current session's data, you cannot change
the Series field. First Free Number To improve the performance of sessions in which new order
numbers are assigned, you can define a cache size for a series. The cache size
is the number of new series numbers that LN generates at once. If
there are series numbers in cache, users do not have to wait while LN generates and checks
the next series numbers. Allowed values Cache size = 0 No caching is applied. If you request a new number, the
number is only committed after the transaction to which the number applies is
completed. Disadvantage: The number series is locked during the
transaction. Other users cannot request a new number from the same series until
the transaction is completed. Advantage: No numbering gaps. Use a cache size of 0 if number gaps are not allowed.
Preferably, request a new number close to the end of a transation to reduce
locking time. In high volume implementations, a cache size of 0 may cause
performance and locking issues. Cache size = 1 If you request a new number, the number is committed
immediately, even if the transaction to which the number applies is not yet
completed. Disadvantage: Numbering gaps may occur if a transaction
is not finished. Advantage: The number series is locked for only a short
time, which improves performance. A cache size of 1 is the default value for number
series. In this way, performance and locking issues in high volume
implementations are avoided as much as possible. Cache size > 1 The value of the cache size indicates how many new
numbers are requested at once. The numbers are committed immediately, even if
transactions are not yet completed. Disadvantage: Large numbering gaps may occur if more
than one transaction is unfinished. Advantage: The number series is locked for only a short
time. Furthermore, for all numbers that are requested, the number series needs
to be updated only once, which improves performance. A cache size larger than 1 is only recommended if a
cache size of 1 does not solve locking issues sufficiently.
Note If the series is already in use, you cannot change the First Free Number field to a lower value. First Free Number Cache Size To improve the performance of sessions in which new order
numbers are assigned, you can define a cache size for a series. The cache size
is the number of new series numbers that LN generates and puts in
the user's cache. The users do not have to wait while LN generates and checks
the next series numbers. If you use the first free numbers cache, the order numbers
can be nonsequential; the numbers that are still in the user's cache are lost
when the user logs off. If you do not want to use the first free numbers cache, you
must set the cache size to zero. Series Blocked for Input If this check box is selected, you cannot use the
series. If you block a series, you must select another series for the type of
orders or other elements to which the series is assigned. Note You can clear the check box to resume using a series. | |