Select the type of mask, either Serial (for serial number) or Lot (for lot number).
The Mask Structure field displays a sample mask number that uses the format you specified. The sample is updated each time you add a segment to the structure.
Numeric segments are shown with an "N" for each number in the segment. All Character segments are shown with an "A" for each character in the segment.
Enter a description for the mask structure.
Enter a code of up to six characters to identify the mask structure.
You can select a character from this list to appear at the beginning of the mask structure (optional).
The Total Length field displays the total number of characters in the selected mask structure. The number is updated each time you add a segment to the structure. A complete mask number can contain up to 40 characters, including separator characters.
To increment the number in a selected segment of the mask, double-click the Increment field to display Yes.
You can increment only one segment in a mask, and it must be a numeric segment.
If a mask contains any numeric segments, one of them must be set to increment.
Enter the number of characters in the segment. You cannot leave this field blank.
If you enter a length that results in the total length of the mask (including prefix and segment separators) to be more than 40, an error message is displayed.
A Mask Structure can have up to five segments, and there must be at least one.
When you press the Insert key to begin a new line, the next segment number is displayed on the new line.
Select the type of segment, either All Characters or Numeric.
In All Characters segments, any character except the characters used for Segment Separators can be entered. In Numeric segments, only numbers can be entered.
For example, AAA-NNNNN would indicate an All Characters segment that is three characters long with a hyphen for the Segment Separator, and a Numeric segment that is five characters long.
Note: If you want to be able to generate a sequence of serial numbers or lot numbers automatically, the mask structure must contain a numeric segment that is set up to increment.
If you want to specify a character to separate the segment you are adding from the next segment, select the character from the drop-down list.
Otherwise, leave None in this field.
Overview
If you use Serialized Inventory and Lot Tracking, you use the Mask Structures screen in the I/C Setup folder to define formats, or mask structures, for your serial numbers and lot numbers.