Number series control how Business Central assigns numbers to documents and records, sales orders, purchase invoices, customers, G/L entries, and more. Each series defines a starting number, an optional ending number, and the increment between numbers. Documents assigned to a series get the next available number automatically when they are created.
This guide covers creating a number series, configuring its lines, assigning it to documents, and setting up relationships between series.
Open No. Series Setup
- Search for No. Series using
Alt + Q. - The list shows all existing number series in the company.
Create a New Number Series
- On the No. Series page, select New.
- Fill in the following fields:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Code | A short identifier, e.g. SINV for sales invoices |
| Description | A readable label, e.g. Sales Invoices |
| Default Nos. | Enable to allow automatic number assignment |
| Manual Nos. | Enable to allow users to enter numbers manually |
- After saving the header, select Lines in the ribbon to open No. Series Lines.
Configure No. Series Lines
Each number series can have one or more lines, where each line defines a range of numbers valid from a specific date.
- On the No. Series Lines page, select New.
- Fill in the fields:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Starting Date | The date from which this range is valid |
| Starting No. | The first number in the range, e.g. SINV-00001 |
| Ending No. | The last number allowed (leave blank for no limit) |
| Increment-by No. | How much each number increases, usually 1 |
| Last No. Used | Updated automatically as numbers are assigned |
| Last Date Used | Updated automatically |
- If you want to warn users before the series runs out, enable Warning No. and enter the number at which the warning should appear.
If a number series reaches its Ending No. and no new line is available, Business Central will show an error when a user tries to create a new document. Plan ahead by either leaving the ending number blank or adding a new line before the series runs out.
Manual vs. Automatic Numbering
The Default Nos. and Manual Nos. fields on the series header control how numbering works:
- Default Nos. enabled, Business Central assigns the next number automatically when a document is created.
- Manual Nos. enabled, Users can type their own number instead of accepting the automatic one.
- Both can be enabled at the same time, giving users the option to override the automatic number.
- If only Manual Nos. is enabled, users must always enter a number, no automatic assignment occurs.
Assign a Number Series to Documents
Number series are assigned in the setup pages for each module.
Sales & Receivables
- Search for Sales & Receivables Setup using
Alt + Q. - Go to the Number Series tab.
- Assign series to fields such as:
- Customer Nos.
- Quote Nos.
- Order Nos.
- Invoice Nos.
- Posted Invoice Nos.
- Credit Memo Nos.
Purchases & Payables
- Search for Purchases & Payables Setup using
Alt + Q. - Go to the Number Series tab.
- Assign series to fields such as:
- Vendor Nos.
- Order Nos.
- Invoice Nos.
- Posted Invoice Nos.
- Credit Memo Nos.
General Ledger
- Search for General Ledger Setup using
Alt + Q. - Go to the Number Series tab.
- Assign series for Journal Batch Nos. and other G/L document types.
Set Up Relationships Between Number Series
Number series relationships let you define a group of series that can substitute for one another, useful when you want different series to be available depending on, for example, the document type or location.
- On the No. Series page, select a series and choose Relations in the ribbon.
- On the No. Series Relationships page, select New.
- In the Series Code field, enter the related number series code.
When Business Central looks for the next number and the current series is full or not yet valid, it will check the related series.
For an overview of how document numbering specifically applies to sales and purchase documents, see How to Configure Document Numbering for Sales and Purchases in Business Central.