# Reference serial status

A serial status is a reference value that describes the condition assigned to a serial
number. Maintain these values in the **Reference list** area of **Configuration**.

## Reference serial status

Use this page to review the values available to serial-number work and maintain the list.

| If you need to… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Find the serial-status list | [Find serial statuses](#find-serial-statuses) |
| Understand the list and its field | [Understand the serial-status screen](#understand-the-serial-status-screen) |
| Add, edit, or remove a value | [Add, edit, or remove a serial status](#add-edit-or-remove-a-serial-status) |
| Handle access or item-count rules | [Handle access and action branches](#handle-access-and-action-branches) |
| Resolve a validation or deletion message | [When validation or deletion fails](#when-validation-or-deletion-fails) |
| Continue with reference-list guidance | [Reference list data](reference-list-data.md) |
| Return to the configuration starting point | [Configuration](configuration-home.md) |
| Maintain a related reference value | [Reference category](configuration-reference-list-reference-category-view.md) |

## Before you start

Before maintaining a serial status, have access to the serial-status list and the
permission required for the action you want to perform.

| Before you start | What it affects |
|---|---|
| Your subscription includes the configured feature | The serial-status page and its controls can appear. |
| The list has loaded | The list and its page controls are available. |
| New-item permission is available | **New** is available. |
| Edit permission is available | The edit control is available. |
| Delete permission is available | The delete control is available. |
| More than one item exists | The delete action can be used without removing the final item. |

## Find serial statuses

The serial-status list is where you review existing reference values before opening a
maintenance form.

**Prerequisites**

- Your subscription includes the configured feature.
- The serial-status list is available to you.

**Steps**

1. Open **Configuration**.
2. Open **Reference list**.
3. Open **Serial status**.
4. Locate the value in the **Status** column.

![The serial-status list under Reference list and Configuration, with the Status column visible](https://atloriaassets.blob.core.windows.net/assets/a438221c-c1af-407c-b9e6-a56c986db846/a193d522e510384a24ea0c1cb4e57a5a.png)

**Result:** The serial-status list is on screen, with the **Status** column available for
review.

## Understand the serial-status screen

This screen includes a **Status** text field for entering one value and lists serial
status values.

| Screen element | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Status** column | Identifies each serial-status value in the list. |
| **Status** field | Accepts the serial-status text in the new or edit form. |
| **New** | Opens the new-item form when the new-item action is available. |
| **Refresh** | Refreshes the list. |
| **Settings** | Opens the list settings control. |

The **Status** field is required. The list displays the **Status** column.

## Add, edit, or remove a serial status

Use this section when you need to maintain one value in the serial-status list.

### Add a serial status

Use the add path when a new reference value is needed.

**Prerequisites**

- The serial-status list has loaded.
- Your subscription includes the configured feature.
- New-item permission is available.

**Steps**

1. Select **New**.
2. In the new-item form, enter the serial-status text in **Status**.
3. Select **Save**.

**Result:** The new serial status is submitted from the form.

### Edit a serial status

Use the edit path when an existing reference value needs to change.

**Prerequisites**

- The serial-status list has loaded.
- Edit permission is available.

**Steps**

1. Select the edit control in the row for the serial status you want to change.
2. Change the value in **Status**.
3. Select **Save**.

**Result:** The changed serial status is submitted from the edit form.

### Remove a serial status

Use the delete path only when more than one serial-status item exists.

> **Note:** Keep at least one serial-status item in the list.

**Prerequisites**

- The serial-status list has loaded.
- Delete permission is available.
- More than one serial-status item exists.

**Steps**

1. Select the delete control in the row for the serial status you want to remove.
2. Select **Delete** in the delete menu.

**Result:** The selected serial status is submitted for deletion.

## Handle access and action branches

The controls available on this page depend on subscription access, permissions, list
state, and the number of items in the list.

| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| The subscription does not include the configured feature | The serial-status list and its page controls do not appear. |
| New-item permission is unavailable | **New** does not appear. |
| Edit permission is unavailable | The edit control does not appear. |
| Delete permission is unavailable | The delete control does not appear. |
| The list has one item | Keep that item in the list. |
| The list has more than one item | The delete path is available. |
| The list is still loading | Wait until the list appears before selecting **New** or an edit/delete control. |

Use the condition that matches your list before choosing a maintenance path.

## When validation or deletion fails

Use the message shown on screen to choose the corrective action.

| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| `Field is required` | Enter a value before saving. |
| `Status is required` | Enter a value in **Status** before saving. |
| `Forbidden characters detected. Please remove them and try again.` | Remove the forbidden characters from **Status**, then save again. |
| `Are you sure you want to delete this item?` | Select **Delete** to continue, or **Cancel** to stop. |
| `Data updated Successfully` | Return to the list and check the changed **Status** value. |
| `Data saved Successfully` | Return to the list and check the new row. |
| `Data Deleted Successfully` | Return to the list. |
| `Related to Saved data, Can't be deleted` | Keep the item while saved data relates to it. |
| `Failed to Delete` | Keep the item and return to the list. |
| `Must have at least one item` | Keep one serial-status item in the list. |

After correcting the issue, return to the maintenance path that matches the action you
were taking.

## After maintaining a serial status

After you submit a valid form, continue at the reference list and check the **Status**
column. Use [Reference list data](reference-list-data.md) for broader reference-list
guidance, or return to [Configuration](configuration-home.md) for another configuration
area. For a related reference entity, open [Reference category](configuration-reference-list-reference-category-view.md).

**Result:** You are back at the reference-data area and can continue with another
configuration task.