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#1
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Generate a unique form number
I am using Office 2003 on Windows XP.
I have a form built in Excel that will be placed in an Outlook folder making it accessible to all users within our organization. Each time a user opens this form a unique number must be generated on the form. Suppose I convert the Excel date to a value: e.g. Aug 17, 2005 becomes 38363 and for time I use 5:34:15 pm = 173415. Now suppose I add these two numbers together and also add the user's computer ID to this (each user must have a unique computer ID) for example: 83177. This would then be 38363 + 173415 + 83177 = 294955 Question: Since this value is date and time based and combines a unique computer ID, would this ALWAYS generate a unique six digit form number? The form number does need to be unique, but not necessarily in sequence Any one have any other suggestions? |
#2
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Generate a unique form number
Hi Quartz,
See JE McGimpsey's Sequential Numbers page at: http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/udfs/sequentialnums.html --- Regards, Norman "quartz" wrote in message ... I am using Office 2003 on Windows XP. I have a form built in Excel that will be placed in an Outlook folder making it accessible to all users within our organization. Each time a user opens this form a unique number must be generated on the form. Suppose I convert the Excel date to a value: e.g. Aug 17, 2005 becomes 38363 and for time I use 5:34:15 pm = 173415. Now suppose I add these two numbers together and also add the user's computer ID to this (each user must have a unique computer ID) for example: 83177. This would then be 38363 + 173415 + 83177 = 294955 Question: Since this value is date and time based and combines a unique computer ID, would this ALWAYS generate a unique six digit form number? The form number does need to be unique, but not necessarily in sequence Any one have any other suggestions? |
#3
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Generate a unique form number
Thanks Norman.
I don't need sequential numbers, just unique ones. I don't really want to mess with the registry nor maintain a separate file to track the numbers. That's why I was looking for a numbering method that could be generated based on date, time, and user computer ID. Do you think my concept would work to generate a unique number? Even if two users happened to open the template file within the same second, their unique box ID would still render a unique number. I'm just worried about numbering overlap between years, etc. What do you think? - Do you know any other websites to check? Thanks much for your help! "Norman Jones" wrote: Hi Quartz, See JE McGimpsey's Sequential Numbers page at: http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/udfs/sequentialnums.html --- Regards, Norman "quartz" wrote in message ... I am using Office 2003 on Windows XP. I have a form built in Excel that will be placed in an Outlook folder making it accessible to all users within our organization. Each time a user opens this form a unique number must be generated on the form. Suppose I convert the Excel date to a value: e.g. Aug 17, 2005 becomes 38363 and for time I use 5:34:15 pm = 173415. Now suppose I add these two numbers together and also add the user's computer ID to this (each user must have a unique computer ID) for example: 83177. This would then be 38363 + 173415 + 83177 = 294955 Question: Since this value is date and time based and combines a unique computer ID, would this ALWAYS generate a unique six digit form number? The form number does need to be unique, but not necessarily in sequence Any one have any other suggestions? |
#4
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Generate a unique form number
quartz,
This will not give a unique number. If the same user goes in the next day, but 1 second earlier, your formula would give the same result. Same user number, date increased by 1, time reduced by 1. Henry "quartz" wrote in message ... I am using Office 2003 on Windows XP. I have a form built in Excel that will be placed in an Outlook folder making it accessible to all users within our organization. Each time a user opens this form a unique number must be generated on the form. Suppose I convert the Excel date to a value: e.g. Aug 17, 2005 becomes 38363 and for time I use 5:34:15 pm = 173415. Now suppose I add these two numbers together and also add the user's computer ID to this (each user must have a unique computer ID) for example: 83177. This would then be 38363 + 173415 + 83177 = 294955 Question: Since this value is date and time based and combines a unique computer ID, would this ALWAYS generate a unique six digit form number? The form number does need to be unique, but not necessarily in sequence Any one have any other suggestions? |
#5
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Generate a unique form number
Hi Quartz,
I seem to recall an especially interesting post from Harlan Grove on the topic of creating unique numbers. It might be worth performing a google search for Harlan's Unique Number contributions. --- Regards, Norman "quartz" wrote in message ... Thanks Norman. I don't need sequential numbers, just unique ones. I don't really want to mess with the registry nor maintain a separate file to track the numbers. That's why I was looking for a numbering method that could be generated based on date, time, and user computer ID. Do you think my concept would work to generate a unique number? Even if two users happened to open the template file within the same second, their unique box ID would still render a unique number. I'm just worried about numbering overlap between years, etc. What do you think? - Do you know any other websites to check? Thanks much for your help! "Norman Jones" wrote: Hi Quartz, See JE McGimpsey's Sequential Numbers page at: http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/udfs/sequentialnums.html --- Regards, Norman "quartz" wrote in message ... I am using Office 2003 on Windows XP. I have a form built in Excel that will be placed in an Outlook folder making it accessible to all users within our organization. Each time a user opens this form a unique number must be generated on the form. Suppose I convert the Excel date to a value: e.g. Aug 17, 2005 becomes 38363 and for time I use 5:34:15 pm = 173415. Now suppose I add these two numbers together and also add the user's computer ID to this (each user must have a unique computer ID) for example: 83177. This would then be 38363 + 173415 + 83177 = 294955 Question: Since this value is date and time based and combines a unique computer ID, would this ALWAYS generate a unique six digit form number? The form number does need to be unique, but not necessarily in sequence Any one have any other suggestions? |
#6
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Generate a unique form number
Oh yeah... :-(
Thanks for your response. "Henry" wrote: quartz, This will not give a unique number. If the same user goes in the next day, but 1 second earlier, your formula would give the same result. Same user number, date increased by 1, time reduced by 1. Henry "quartz" wrote in message ... I am using Office 2003 on Windows XP. I have a form built in Excel that will be placed in an Outlook folder making it accessible to all users within our organization. Each time a user opens this form a unique number must be generated on the form. Suppose I convert the Excel date to a value: e.g. Aug 17, 2005 becomes 38363 and for time I use 5:34:15 pm = 173415. Now suppose I add these two numbers together and also add the user's computer ID to this (each user must have a unique computer ID) for example: 83177. This would then be 38363 + 173415 + 83177 = 294955 Question: Since this value is date and time based and combines a unique computer ID, would this ALWAYS generate a unique six digit form number? The form number does need to be unique, but not necessarily in sequence Any one have any other suggestions? |
#7
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Generate a unique form number
Thanks again Norman. I will definately look up Mr. Grove...
"Norman Jones" wrote: Hi Quartz, I seem to recall an especially interesting post from Harlan Grove on the topic of creating unique numbers. It might be worth performing a google search for Harlan's Unique Number contributions. --- Regards, Norman "quartz" wrote in message ... Thanks Norman. I don't need sequential numbers, just unique ones. I don't really want to mess with the registry nor maintain a separate file to track the numbers. That's why I was looking for a numbering method that could be generated based on date, time, and user computer ID. Do you think my concept would work to generate a unique number? Even if two users happened to open the template file within the same second, their unique box ID would still render a unique number. I'm just worried about numbering overlap between years, etc. What do you think? - Do you know any other websites to check? Thanks much for your help! "Norman Jones" wrote: Hi Quartz, See JE McGimpsey's Sequential Numbers page at: http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/udfs/sequentialnums.html --- Regards, Norman "quartz" wrote in message ... I am using Office 2003 on Windows XP. I have a form built in Excel that will be placed in an Outlook folder making it accessible to all users within our organization. Each time a user opens this form a unique number must be generated on the form. Suppose I convert the Excel date to a value: e.g. Aug 17, 2005 becomes 38363 and for time I use 5:34:15 pm = 173415. Now suppose I add these two numbers together and also add the user's computer ID to this (each user must have a unique computer ID) for example: 83177. This would then be 38363 + 173415 + 83177 = 294955 Question: Since this value is date and time based and combines a unique computer ID, would this ALWAYS generate a unique six digit form number? The form number does need to be unique, but not necessarily in sequence Any one have any other suggestions? |
#8
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Generate a unique form number
? cdbl(Now*10^10)
385823491435185 It would be highly unlikely that this number would be duplicated. You could prepend a unique letter combination for each user to insure uniquensss ? "ABC" & cdbl(Now*10^10) ABC385823512615741 -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "quartz" wrote in message ... I am using Office 2003 on Windows XP. I have a form built in Excel that will be placed in an Outlook folder making it accessible to all users within our organization. Each time a user opens this form a unique number must be generated on the form. Suppose I convert the Excel date to a value: e.g. Aug 17, 2005 becomes 38363 and for time I use 5:34:15 pm = 173415. Now suppose I add these two numbers together and also add the user's computer ID to this (each user must have a unique computer ID) for example: 83177. This would then be 38363 + 173415 + 83177 = 294955 Question: Since this value is date and time based and combines a unique computer ID, would this ALWAYS generate a unique six digit form number? The form number does need to be unique, but not necessarily in sequence Any one have any other suggestions? |
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