Unique document number/identifier custom meta data with auto increment

[Lynx]

Is it possible to have an unique document number/identifier (integer) as custom metadata which is automatically incremented for each document?

[cgrunenberg]

That’s already possible, see Bates Number placeholder and same AppleScript property.

[BLUEFROG]

It is possible to use a Bate Number placeholder in a smart rule.

As an example…

[Lynx]

@cgrunenberg @BLUEFROG Thank you very much.

[Lynx]

@BLUEFROG @cgrunenberg Is it possible to have a custom bate number for each database? Or is it possible to create my own kind of bate number and save the current value in a plist file?

[BLUEFROG]

Is it possible to have a custom bate number for each database?

You’re welcome and no. A Bates number is global.

Currently you can’t change it on your own but the next release will have an AppleScript property to set the Bates number’s intiial value.

[chrillek]

@Lynx

Is it possible to have a custom bate number for each database

You could try to simulate that by having a record bates or so that contains the last number used. A script would then read this number, increment it, add it to the current record and write the new value back to bates. Although I can’t tell you if this might run into a race condition or not.

[Lynx]

@chrillek Thanks. Do you have an example for creating and saving such a record?

[chrillek]

You mean for creating a text record and typing „0“ in it? I don’t think I can add anything to that description.

[Lynx]

@chrillek How Do I access and update this record within in a script?

[chrillek]

I suggest that you try your hand at it. There are a lot of AppleScript scripts available here in the forum, and some JavaScript code, too.

More on JavaScript and DT (as well as some basic stuff) here: Scripting with JXA | JavaScript for Automation (JXA)

If you have a concrete question, I’m happy to help.