Managing Document Numbering

The document number range defines the intervals of numbers utilized in document numbering. It is crucial to ensure that these number ranges don't overlap.

SAP S/4HANA allows for two types of number assignments:

• Internal Numbering: Under this system, SAP S/4HANA keeps a record of the last document number generated by the customized number range in the Current Number field. The system then assigns the number succeeding the current number as the subsequent document number.

• External Number Assignment: This numbering method allows the user to manually input the original document number, or it can be transferred from another system. As the numbers aren't allotted in a sequence, SAP S/4HANA does not preserve a current number. It's important to note that the numbering can be alphanumeric.

Lastly, each document number range must be associated with the last year of its validity.

Defining document number ranges in SAP S/4HANA can be based on two options:

• Continuity: With the beginning of a new fiscal year, SAP S/4HANA continues the numbering from where it had previously left off (the current number) for the next sequence. So, it doesn't restart from the beginning of the number range.

• Annual Basis: In this option, SAP S/4HANA resets to the first number in the range at the start of every new fiscal year. This process guarantees that there are always enough numbers in the range to accommodate the year's transactions.