How to Handle Tank Serial Numbers
One of the most important pieces of information in the system is the serial number used to identify each of your tanks. Because of your large investment in tanks, you need to be able to absolutely identify and keep track of them. To do this, it's crucial that the serial numbers are unique and easy to use. If they're not, you run the risk of "losing" tanks.
Unfortunately, the tank manufacturers who assign the original numbers all use different serial numbering schemes. Many are alpha-numeric, most are of different lengths, and none of them lend themselves to easy, consistent identification. In addition, you probably have tanks from different manufacturers that were purchased over a long period of time, thereby further compounding the problem.
If we just used the numbers the way they came from the manufacturers, it would be extremely confusing . . . numbers and letters inter-mixed, different length numbers, and duplication of the prefixes.
Lynx solves this problem by using a three-part tank "serial number".
The Serial Prefix is that set of alpha-numeric data that precedes the unique numeric serial number itself. If appropriate, this field can be left blank.
The Serial # is the main number used to identify your tanks. This is the first set of meaningful numbers (these MUST be numbers, never alphabetic characters) in the entire manufacturers identification number.
The Serial Suffix are those numbers or letters that follow the Serial # itself. If appropriate, this field can also be left blank.
Here's an example:
Let's say that the manufacturers identification is 7SD001733UG. This would be entered into the system as follows
The numbers 1733 are the first set of meaningful numbers (reading from left to right) and become the Serial # for the tank.
Any preceding characters (in this example, 7SD00) become the Prefix.
Any following characters (in this example, UG) become the Suffix.
The bottom line is that anytime you're dealing with this tank in Lynx, you would always use 1733 to identify it.