The most important new feature is the possibility to apply numbering to existing attributes!
This means that you can now apply your own completely custom numbering to standard attributes such as Case Ticket Number, Account Number, and so on.
Another effect is that the built in numberings are actually now customizable way beyond what can be done in the classic numbering configuration in the platform.
This definition is now shown in Auto Number Manager as this:
Changes made in System Settings in the Dynamics 365 UI are reflected in Auto Number Manager, but some changes that can be made in ANM cannot be represented well in the platform. Changes to the SEQNUM length is not shown in the platform UI, and of course adding new features such as static text in other places than the beginning, date strings etc. are not represented well at all.
Another new feature is the possibility to create auto numbers that do not contain a SEQNUM placeholder. There is of course a bigger risk that your resulting numbers will not be unique, but in some scenarios a number in the form of a timestamp can be useful.
This feature will probably not be available in the platform UI, once it is introduced. In Auto Number Manager, you have to tick checkbox Don’t require SEQNUM to ensure this format is intentional.
Labels: Community, Customization, Open Source, SDK, Tools
