The auto number generator (ANG) in Proplanner is a tool that aids in generating ID’s for processes. The ANG works off schemes. The user can define multiple schemes or templates for defining the structure of the generated number. Each scheme has two parts, a fixed text portion and an auto generated portion. The fixed portion will be present in each ID; it can be placed at the beginning, in the middle or at the end. The auto generated portion is automatically generated based on the next available ID.
Creating an auto-number scheme
The following steps are required for creating a new auto-number scheme.
| 1. | To create a scheme, click on "Tools" and then select "Auto-Numbering Schemes Library" located at the bottom of the list. |
| 2. | Next, click on the "Add" button located below the Numbering Schemes list box. |
| 3. | A window will appear asking you to name your scheme. Provide a name and then click "OK". |
 Figure 1: How to add a new numbering scheme |
| 4. | Highlight the name of the new number scheme in the Numbering Scheme list box and then click the "Add" button located below the Fields list box. This will allow you to define different fields for your numbering scheme. |
| 5. | After clicking "Add" provide a name for the field. For example the name could represent what type of field it is, such as "Fixed" or "Auto-Generated". These names will appear in the "Fields" list box. The order they appear in the list box will determine their order in the number scheme. To rearrange the order, highlight a field name, and click the "Up" or "Down" arrows. |
 Figure 2: How to add fields |
| 6. | Next you need to specify the type of values you want in each field. For "Fixed-Text" field, you must define the length and the default value. Whatever you define as the default value will appear in every auto-number generated ID. For an "Auto-Generated" field, you must define the length, minimum and maximum values, and the step size (how much the number increases between ID's). |
 Figure 3: How to specify values for each field type |
| 7. | You have now created a auto-numbering scheme. In the example shown in Figure 3, the ID's generated will have a prefix 6R with 8 digits following. |
| 8. | Now that you have defined an auto-numbering scheme you can use it in multiple places. For instance, if you add an activity to an operation, you have the option to select a scheme. By selecting a scheme, an auto-generated ID number will automatically appear in the ID field. |
Note: The user will have to go in and define a new scheme for each product family.
 Figure 4: Using the auto-numbering scheme |