Auto Number is a field type that automatically generates a unique, sequential value for every record, useful for reference numbers, invoice numbers, or as a cleaner alternative to a default Name field on a custom module.
How to add one
- Open Modules and Fields. Go to Setup, then Customization, then Modules and Fields, and select the module you want.
- Add the field. Drag the Auto Number field type from the New Fields panel into your layout.
- Configure it. Set a Prefix, a Suffix, and the starting number. You can preview exactly how the finished value will look as you adjust spacing and hyphens.
- Apply it retroactively if needed. Tick the option to update existing records, and every record already in that module will be numbered too, not just new ones going forward.
Tip: The prefix or suffix can include merge fields, such as the current month and year, using the # picker, so a value can look like INV-2026-001 and update its year portion automatically going forward.
Using Auto Number as a custom module's record name
By default, a new custom module comes with a mandatory Single Line text field as its record name, which some teams find is an unnecessary extra step during creation. This can be switched to Auto Number instead, but only at the point the custom module is first created: hover over the default Name field, click Edit Properties, and select the Auto-number option in place of Single Line.
Note: Auto Number values are not intended to represent a running count of total records. If a record in the middle of the sequence is deleted, the remaining records are not renumbered, so gaps in the sequence are normal and expected rather than a fault.
Need help? 1 Cloud Consultants can help you design Auto Number formats, including dynamic prefixes, for invoices, custom module records, or other reference numbers.
Book a discovery call with 1 Cloud Consultants.