How do I generate a unique customer enquiry / order reference id ?

[pevans01]

Hi, we're looking at using an outlook template in as part of an internal
requisition process. Is it possible to get a unique "requisition reference
number" generated within the email (subjector body, pref subject!) when the
user chooses the form from the published organisational forms ?. We want to
use this so we have an audit trail prior to the authorised request going onto
SAP. Whether a request is approved or not, we'd like any email correspondence
going between the requestor, approver, and the financial authorisor to be
uniquely identifiable and searchable.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

If a simple unique identifier will do, you can take the item's EntryID (set after the item is saved) and copy it into the field that you want to use to hold the ID. The value of the actual EntryID property may change if you move the item, but the value in the custom property won't.

My book demonstrates several other methods. You can download the sample code from http://www.outlookcode.com/member/book.aspx :

1) Get a GUID with the Session.CreateConversationIndex from CDO 1.21. (Listing 20.5)

2) Build an ID from the current date/time (Listing 20.6)

If you need a sequential number, not just a unique number, here are some methods you can use:

3) Use an autonumber table in SQL Server or Microsoft Access. (In my book, Listing 23.7 with Listing 23.4 or 23.3 to open the database)

4) In a custom Outlook form, republish the form after each use to reset the number. See http://www.outlookexchange.com/articles/ricardosilva/vbscriptoutforms.asp

5) Use an Excel worksheet that contains VBA code to increment the number. See http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...sers&mid=5489e140-9794-41b7-a9ba-1324e136ff3a

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers