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Subject:Document numbering system From:"Tim Lewis" <Writer -dot- lewis -at- att -dot- net> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Sun, 4 Mar 2001 15:04:57 -0600
Do you have a document numbering system to track document files? If so, is
it a numbering system that is sequential? Or, do you have a system that
identifies the document number to a specific product line? For example,
product A may have the letter A in the doc number.
Here is the background.
I have a client that has been numbering their documents in sequence for many
years. Each new doc is assigned a number when it is started. The number is
automatically generated by the database in the PC. A large number of people
have access to the database and need to use it when they start new documents
or revise a current one. When a doc comes up for revision, a dash number is
added to indicate the current revision. For example, a new doc might be
assigned 12345 and its first revision would be 12345-1. The system is used
because it is easy to find docs in the database where all the doc
information is filed. The number has nothing to do with specific products.
The customers in the field are quite used to the system. Customers can order
the doc by the number or look it up on-line by name. If they have the doc in
hand, they can look at the doc number and easily order it by the number.
Filing the hard copies of the docs is simple.
A new manager wants to change the numbering system that would have lengthy
unique file names that somewhat identify the document (I do not know exactly
what the manager wants) and product. The problem is that the electronic
database system would not be able to generate sequential doc numbers. I
think any other method would be cumbersome for everyone.
Your opinion?
Tim Lewis
Lewis Communications
3218 Redhawk Trail
Rockford, IL 61109-6116
815-873-9944
Fax: 815-873-9955
writer -dot- lewis -at- worldnet -dot- att -dot- net
IPCC 01, the IEEE International Professional Communication Conference,
October 24-27, 2001 at historic La Fonda in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.
CALL FOR PAPERS OPEN UNTIL MARCH 15. http://ieeepcs.org/2001/
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