<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Project Module > Project parameters (detailed description) > Item designations 1 tab > Counting number in item designations > Principles for automatic item designation generation

Automatic item designation generation is in many ways trivial, but in some other ways in fact rather complicated. All the parts that the item designation is composed of, with one exception, are fetched from the surroundings of the symbol in question, or from the symbol itself.

 

The exception is the counting number, which is used to separate devices that would have had equal item designations if it was not for the counting number.

 

A part of a project where item designations would be equal if it was not for the counting number and the component type letter code, is called a "numbering range". It may for instance consist of a combination of function (plant) and location, if they are both part of the item designation composition.

 

There are quite a lot of ways in which the calculation of the counting number can be made, which is why a number of project parameters are needed to control the process.

 

An important basic principle, which is always valid, is that the numbering should be done with respect to already existing item designations which will be respected, unless the user specifically demands something else. With respect taken to the project parameters, the least possible free number will always be chosen. In other words, any “gaps” in the numbering series will be filled, before the numbering continues from the greatest existing number in each numbering range respectively.