# Serial combination details

## Serial combination details

A serial combination defines the ordered components that PAMS uses to build a serial number.
Use it when you need to control the structure of numbers assigned to jobs and related records.
Changes apply only to new jobs; existing jobs keep the combination that was already applied.

Before changing a combination, review [Before you start](#before-you-start).

| If you need to… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Choose the serial type to configure | [Find a serial combination](#find-a-serial-combination) |
| Identify the fields and history on the screen | [Understand the combination screen](#understand-the-combination-screen) |
| Add, edit, validate, or save rows | [Maintain a serial combination](#maintain-a-serial-combination) |
| Work with an unavailable edit surface | [Handle access and screen variations](#handle-access-and-screen-variations) |
| Resolve a validation or save message | [When saving or deleting goes wrong](#when-saving-or-deleting-goes-wrong) |
| Locate the related configuration list | [Serial combinations](doc:configuration-serial-combinations-view) |
| Continue with the records that use these combinations | [Products](doc:products) |

## Before you start

Editing a serial combination is an administrative task controlled by access and subscription
settings. The form requires authentication and uses a leaving-page guard when you navigate away.

**Prerequisites**

- Sign in to PAMS.
- Have permission to add, change, and remove combination rows.
- Use a subscription that includes this configuration surface.

The main form and grid appear when the subscription includes the feature. **Save**, the close
action, **Component**, and editable row deletion depend on this permission. The **Last Modifications**
tab appears when audit history is available.

## Find a serial combination

A serial type identifies which numbering pattern you are configuring, such as a job number or an
invoice number.

**Prerequisites**

- Have access to the serial-combination configuration surface.

**Steps**

1. In the serial-type navigation, select the entry for the number you need to configure.

   | If you need to configure… | Select |
   |---|---|
   | Jobs | **Job No** |
   | Offers | **Offer No** |
   | Orders | **Order No** |
   | Invoices | **Invoice No** |
   | Payments | **Payment No** |
   | Buyouts | **Buyout No** |
   | Material request quotations | **MRQ No** |
   | Packages | **Package No** |
   | Purchase orders | **Purchase Order No** |
   | Received shipments | **Received Shipment No** |
   | Inspected orders | **Inspected Order No** |
   | Shipping orders | **Shipping Order No** |
   | Assembly orders | **Assembly Order No** |
   | Transfer orders | **Transfer Order No** |
   | Service orders | **Service Order No** |
   | Issue notes | **Issue Note No** |
   | Delivery notes | **Delivery Note No** |
   | Cost transactions | **Cost Transaction No** |
   | Outgoing payments | **Outgoing Payment** |

   The form switches to the selected serial type.

**Result:** The selected serial-type combination is open for review or maintenance.

Continue with [Understand the combination screen](#understand-the-combination-screen).

## Understand the combination screen

The combination screen is a grid where each row represents one component in the serial-number
order. The preview reflects the combination when the preview is available.

The grid contains these fields:

| Field | What to use it for | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| **Serial Component** | Choose the component used in this position | Required for a populated row; the minimum valid component value is `1`. |
| **Digits** | Set the number of digits for the selected component | Required when the row has no digits; the valid range is `1` to `12`. |
| **Default Value** | Set a fixed value where the selected component allows one | Disabled unless the component is **Auto serial**; text components remain editable. |

The page also provides a serial-combination preview and the **Last Modifications** tab when the
history surface is available. **Last Modifications** is the audit history for the combination; it
displays the text “The audit log provides you with a chronological sequence of actions performed by
the users” and its entries.

![Read the three combination grid
columns and the controls below the grid.](https://atloriaassets.blob.core.windows.net/assets/a438221c-c1af-407c-b9e6-a56c986db846/4c1eac408293e6603c805ab99453b869.png)

The combination table shows **Serial Component**, **Digits**, and **Default Value**. The visible
controls are **Save** and **Component**. A refresh control is also present with the title `Refresh`.

![Review the optional
Last Modifications history below the combination grid.](https://atloriaassets.blob.core.windows.net/assets/a438221c-c1af-407c-b9e6-a56c986db846/4c1eac408293e6603c805ab99453b869.png)

When you are ready to change the rows, continue with [Maintain a serial combination](#maintain-a-serial-combination).

## Maintain a serial combination

Maintain the combination by adding component rows, setting their component values and digits,
supplying allowed default values, and saving the resulting order.

**Prerequisites**

- Open the serial type you need to maintain.
- Have permission to add, change, and remove combination rows.

**Steps**

1. Select **Component** to add a combination row.

   A new row provides the **Serial Component**, **Digits**, and **Default Value** cells.

   ![Select Component to add a
   row to the combination grid.](https://atloriaassets.blob.core.windows.net/assets/a438221c-c1af-407c-b9e6-a56c986db846/4c1eac408293e6603c805ab99453b869.png)

2. In **Serial Component**, choose one of the available component options.

   The configured options include **Year**, **Auto serial**, and **Text**.

3. In **Digits**, choose a value when the selected component uses a digit count.

   The **Digits** field is not shown for some component choices.

   ![Set the digit count for the
   selected component.](https://atloriaassets.blob.core.windows.net/assets/a438221c-c1af-407c-b9e6-a56c986db846/4c1eac408293e6603c805ab99453b869.png)

4. In **Default Value**, enter a value when the selected component permits one.

   The field is disabled unless the component is **Auto serial**; text components remain editable.

   ![Review the Default Value
   cell and its enabled state for the selected component.](https://atloriaassets.blob.core.windows.net/assets/a438221c-c1af-407c-b9e6-a56c986db846/4c1eac408293e6603c805ab99453b869.png)

5. Arrange the rows so that the **Auto serial** component is the last item.

6. Select **Save**.

   The form checks that the combination has a component, has exactly one **Auto serial**, has no
   more than 12 characters in total, and places **Auto serial** last.

   ![Select Save after reviewing the
   component rows and their order.](https://atloriaassets.blob.core.windows.net/assets/a438221c-c1af-407c-b9e6-a56c986db846/4c1eac408293e6603c805ab99453b869.png)

7. If you need to remove a populated row, open that row's delete action.

   | If the row is… | Then |
   |---|---|
   | Populated | Confirm the prompt `Are you sure you want to delete this row?` by selecting **Delete**. |
   | Empty | Use the row's direct delete action. |

   Select **Cancel** in the confirmation surface to keep the row.

**Result:** The combination is saved when the form accepts the rows and displays
`Your combination number saved successfully`.

Review [Handle access and screen variations](#handle-access-and-screen-variations) for the other
surfaces that can appear.

## Handle access and screen variations

The screen changes according to the access and subscription conditions applied to your account.
Use the following table to identify the surface you are looking at before you try to edit it.

**Prerequisites**

- Open the serial combination you want to review.

**Steps**

1. Compare the screen with the alternatives in the table.

| What you see | What it means | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| The subscription-upgrade surface replaces the form | The subscription does not include this feature | Use the available subscription path. |
| The form has no **Save** or editable **Component** action | Edit access is unavailable | Use the page's leave action to exit without editing. |
| A close action remains while editing is unavailable | The page is in a non-editable state | Select the close action to leave the page. |
| **Last Modifications** is absent | The modification-history surface is not available in this configuration | Continue with the combination grid. |
| A populated row has a confirmation delete action | The row can be removed through confirmation | Select **Delete** or **Cancel** in the confirmation surface. |

**Result:** The screen shows the form or subscription surface that applies to your access, with the
actions available for that surface.

When a save or delete action produces a message, continue with [When saving or deleting goes
wrong](#when-saving-or-deleting-goes-wrong).

## When saving or deleting goes wrong

The messages below identify the correction to make before you try the action again.

**Prerequisites**

- Have a combination ready to save or a row ready to delete.

**Steps**

1. Apply the correction listed for the message you see.

| Message | What to correct |
|---|---|
| `Please add serial components` | Add a row with **Component**. |
| `Serial type is required` | Select the serial type before saving. |
| `Please Note that you can't add serial combination larger than 12 characters` | Reduce the total combination length to 12 characters or fewer. |
| `Please select a serial type` | Select a serial type before saving. |
| `Cannot have multiple Auto Serials` | Remove the additional **Auto serial** component. |
| `Must have one Auto Serial` | Add one **Auto serial** component. |
| `Auto Serial must be the last item` | Move **Auto serial** to the last row. |
| `Quantity is required.` | Choose a value in **Digits** for the affected row. |
| `Component is required.` | Choose a value in **Serial Component** for the affected row. |
| `Invalid quantity.` | Choose a **Digits** value from the valid range. |
| `Invalid component.` | Choose a valid **Serial Component** value. |
| `Auto Serial Must Be a Number` | Enter a numeric default value for **Auto serial**. |
| `Saving Failed` | Review the combination rows, then select **Save** again. |
| `Are you sure you want to delete this row?` | Select **Delete** to remove the row or **Cancel** to keep it. |

2. Apply the correction or select the action in the matching table row.

**Result:** The affected row is corrected, saved, removed, or kept according to the message you
received.

After the action completes, continue with [After maintaining a combination](#after-maintaining-a-combination).

## After maintaining a combination

After a successful save, the combination has been accepted for new jobs. Existing jobs are not
changed by this configuration update.

**Result:** The page displays `Your combination number saved successfully` after a successful save.

| If you need to… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Locate another saved serial combination | [Serial combinations](doc:configuration-serial-combinations-view) |
| Continue with product configuration | [Products](doc:products) |