Document Numbers for a Custom Transaction Type
This topic describes document numbers for a custom transaction type. For general information, see Numbering for a Custom Transaction Type.
Numbers for document types are external numbers, such as the number that an external vendor uses on a bill, or account-based numbers such as a check number. Document numbers can also store a number for type-based transactions. Type-based numbers are available as custom columns in searches and lists.
The Document Numbers subtab isn't relevant for Purchase custom transaction types. Purchase custom transactions use external numbering, similar to that used for vendor bills, where users specify the number themselves. If an automated numbering sequence is needed for a purchase custom transaction type, use Transaction Numbers.
For external numbering sequences such as vendor bill, the document number is unique for each vendor, which permits the same document number to be assigned to more than one vendor. NetSuite prevents a vendor from having a duplicated document number on the same transaction type.
Document numbers are useful in transactions where the account field has special significance. These types of transactions must have numbering that's unique to the account named on the transaction. For example, if five individual transactions are drawing money from the same account, then their document numbers are part of a single sequence even if they're not the same types.
Document numbers can also be required because of government numbering requirements. In those cases, NetSuite customers may want to use the document numbering system to meet the government requirements and transaction numbering to satisfy their own internal needs and requirements.