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Overview

In this scenario, we require that both the Contact and Account entity share the AutoNumber count.

Whenever an Account or a Contact is created, we want their respective new_autonumber field to be filled automatically. We want this field to be iterated from the last Contact or Account. 

Note 1  : The North52 autonumber solution guarantees 100% uniqueness for autonumbers when a single entity is involved. In this KB article , two entities are involved so there is a small chance that duplicate autonumbers could occur under heavy system load. So please be aware of this risk if using the KB article. 

Note 2: We use a custom field on the Account entity called new_autonumber and another custom field on the Contact entity also called new_autonumber. You will need to create these first or replace wherever you see new_autonumber with your own field. 

 

North52 Decision Suite

The North52 Decision Suite solution works like this:

  • Two Formulas are created - one that triggers on the creation of an Account, the other on the creation of a Contact
  • Both Formulas will search for the highest Account AutoNumber and the highest Contact AutoNumber using 2 Fetch Xml queries
  • They will compare the two AutoNumbers and take the highest value
  • They will set the AutoNumber for Account/Contact to be the current highest AutoNumber + 1
Note that both Formulas and their Fetch Xml queries are very similar, only the names of the Fetch Xml and the prefixes change from the first Formula to the second.

Set up Formulas and Fetch Xml Queries

Formula 1: AutoNumber Multiple Entities - Account

  • Navigate to Settings > N52 Formula
  • Create a new formula, setting the following values in the Formula Guide:
    • Source Entity set to Account
    • Set Formula Type to Auto Number
    • Select the Classic Editor
  • Change the Name of the formula to AutoNumber Multiple Entities - Account
  • Expand Source & Target
  • Set Target Property to AutoNumber
  • Copy and paste the following into the Classic Editor (you may need to replace the new_autonumber field reference with your own field schema name) 
    Smartflow(
  
SetVar('ContactAutoNumberwithPrefix',FindValueFD('Highest Contact AutoNumber - for Accounts','new_autonumber','0','true')), 
SetVar('AccountAutoNumberwithPrefix',FindValueFD('Highest Account AutoNumber - for Accounts','new_autonumber','0','true')),
  
SetVar('ContactAutoNumber', Replace(GetVar('ContactAutoNumberwithPrefix'),'CON-','')),
SetVar('AccountAutoNumber',Replace(GetVar('AccountAutoNumberwithPrefix'),'ACC-','')), 
  
SetVar('LatestAutoNumber',MaxOf(GetVar('ContactAutoNumber'),GetVar('AccountAutoNumber'))),

'ACC-'+PadLeft(GetVar('LatestAutoNumber')+ 1,9,'0') 
  )
  • Click Save

Formula 1 Fetch Xml (1): Highest Contact AutoNumber - for Accounts

From the Formula AutoNumber Multiple Entities- Account:

  • Select the Fetch-Xml tab
    • Click the + button
    • Set Name to Highest Contact AutoNumber - for Accounts
    • For Query, copy and paste the following Fetch Xml (you may need to replace the new_autonumber field reference with your own field schema name): 
      <fetch version="1.0" output-format="xml-platform" mapping="logical" distinct="false">
  <entity name="contact">
    <attribute name="fullname" />
    <attribute name="contactid" />
    <attribute name="new_autonumber" />
    <order attribute="new_autonumber" descending="true" />
  </entity>
</fetch>
  • Click Save & Close

Formula 1 Fetch Xml (2): Highest Account AutoNumber - for Accounts

From the Formula AutoNumber Multiple Entities- Account:

  • Click on the Fetch-Xml tab
    • Click the + button
    • Set Name to Highest Account AutoNumber - for Accounts
    • For Query, copy and paste the following Fetch Xml (you may need to replace the new_autonumber field reference with your own field schema name): 
      <fetch version="1.0" output-format="xml-platform" mapping="logical" distinct="false">
  <entity name="account">
    <attribute name="name" />
    <attribute name="accountid" />
    <attribute name="new_autonumber" />
    <order attribute="new_autonumber" descending="true" />
  </entity>
</fetch>
  • Click Save & Close

Formula 2: AutoNumber Multiple Entities - Contact

  • Navigate to Settings > N52 Formula
  • Create a new formula, setting the following values in the Formula Guide:
    • Source Entity set to Contact
    • Set Formula Type to Auto Number
    • Select the Classic Editor
  • Change the Name of the formula to AutoNumber Multiple Entities - Contact
  • Expand Source & Target
  • Set Target Property to AutoNumber
  • Paste the following code into the Classic Editor (you may need to replace the new_autonumber field reference with your own field schema name): 
    Smartflow(
  
SetVar('ContactAutoNumberwithPrefix',FindValueFD('Highest Contact AutoNumber - for Contacts','new_autonumber','0','true')), 
SetVar('AccountAutoNumberwithPrefix',FindValueFD('Highest Account AutoNumber - for Contacts','new_autonumber','0','true')),
  
SetVar('ContactAutoNumber', Replace(GetVar('ContactAutoNumberwithPrefix'),'CON-','')),
SetVar('AccountAutoNumber',Replace(GetVar('AccountAutoNumberwithPrefix'),'ACC-','')), 
  
SetVar('LatestAutoNumber',MaxOf(GetVar('ContactAutoNumber'),GetVar('AccountAutoNumber'))),

'CON-'+PadLeft(GetVar('LatestAutoNumber')+ 1,9,'0') 
  
)
  • Click Save

Formula 2 Fetch Xml (1): Highest Contact AutoNumber - for Contacts

From the Formula AutoNumber Multiple Entities - Contact:

  • Click on the Fetch-Xml tab
    • Click the + button
    • Set the Name to be Highest Contact AutoNumber - for Contacts
    • For Query, copy and paste the following Fetch Xml (you may need to replace the new_autonumber field reference with your own field schema name): 
      <fetch version="1.0" output-format="xml-platform" mapping="logical" distinct="false">
  <entity name="contact">
    <attribute name="fullname" />
    <attribute name="contactid" />
    <attribute name="new_autonumber" />
    <order attribute="new_autonumber" descending="true" />
  </entity>
</fetch>
  • Click Save & Close

Formula 2 Fetch Xml (2): Highest Account AutoNumber - for Contacts

From the Formula AutoNumber Multiple Entities - Contact:

  • Click on the Fetch-Xml tab
    • Click the + button
    • Set the Name to be Highest Account AutoNumber - for Contacts
    • For Query, copy and paste the following Fetch Xml (you may need to replace the new_autonumber field reference with your own field schema name): 
      <fetch version="1.0" output-format="xml-platform" mapping="logical" distinct="false">
  <entity name="account">
    <attribute name="name" />
    <attribute name="accountid" />
    <attribute name="new_autonumber" />
    <order attribute="new_autonumber" descending="true" />
  </entity>
</fetch>
  • Click Save & Close

Test

You are now ready to test. To test the formula, create an Account or a Contact. You should see that the AutoNumber is set like below.


Did you know?

North52 Quick Tiles can be displayed on Dynamics Portals Entity Forms

That's right, you can display information via North52 Quick Tiles on an Entity Form. Display things like:

  • Number of cases remaining
  • Current support response time
  • Remaining credits
  • Outstanding balance
  • And much more...

Configure your rules/decision logic using North52 Decision Tables. You can have one, two, three…or ten tiles - you choose! 

Learn more about North52 Quick Tiles for Portals

Keywords: Smartflow, AutoNumber, FindValue, FindValueFD, MaxOf, Left, PadLeft, Replace, GetVar, SmartFlow, SetVar, Formula Manager