How do I generate custom sequential IDs in Airtable?

Filla's Unique ID Generator connects to your Airtable base and assigns formatted sequential IDs to your records. Create a Unique ID Generator tool in your Filla workspace, select the table, choose the output field, and configure your ID format (prefix, counter padding, reset scope). For example, set the prefix to "INV-2026-" with 4-digit padding to get IDs like INV-2026-0001, INV-2026-0002, and so on. Click Run and Filla assigns IDs to all records that do not already have one. The tool is safe to run repeatedly because it skips records with existing IDs.

Can I reset the counter each year or month?

Yes. Filla supports three counter reset scopes. Never reset produces a continuous sequence (1, 2, 3...) that never restarts. Yearly reset restarts the counter at the beginning of each calendar year, so the first record in 2027 would get 0001 even if 2026 ended at 0500. Monthly reset restarts the counter at the beginning of each month. Reset scopes are useful for financial documents where numbering conventions follow fiscal periods. For example, invoice numbers that reset each year (INV-2026-0001, INV-2027-0001) are a common accounting requirement.

How is this different from Airtable's Auto Number field?

Airtable's Auto Number field produces plain incrementing integers (1, 2, 3...) with no formatting options. You cannot add a prefix, cannot pad with zeros, cannot reset the counter, and cannot control the format in any way. The Auto Number also has known issues: deleting and re-creating records can produce gaps or reused numbers, and the number resets if you duplicate a table. Filla's Unique ID Generator gives you full control over the format (INV-2026-0001), zero-padding (1-8 digits), counter reset timing (never, yearly, monthly), and writes to a regular text field that is fully portable and does not change unexpectedly.

Can I generate invoice numbers in Airtable?

Yes. This is one of the most common use cases for Filla's Unique ID Generator. Set the prefix to your invoice numbering convention (like "INV-" or "INV-2026-"), choose 4-digit zero-padding, and select yearly reset if you want numbering to restart each fiscal year. Run the tool and every record without an existing invoice number gets a sequential, formatted ID. The result is professional invoice numbers like INV-2026-0001, INV-2026-0002 that look right on generated documents, are easy to reference in communications, and sort correctly in Airtable views.

Processor Tool

Generate Custom Unique IDs in Airtable

Generate sequential IDs like INV-2026-0042 for every record, with yearly reset and zero-padding.

new record → INV-2026-0042

Start Building Free See pricing

Step 1

Connect your Airtable base

Step 2

Configure the tool

Set options, choose columns, and preview results.

Step 3

Run on your records

Process your data. Results write back to Airtable.

What You Get

Built into every Filla processor tool.

Custom format patterns

Create IDs like INV-2026-0001, PO-0042, or TKT-20260319-001. Any prefix, any format.

Counter reset scopes

Reset numbering never, yearly, or monthly. Yearly is common for invoice numbers like INV-2026-0001, INV-2027-0001.

Zero-padding for consistent length

Choose 1-8 digits of padding so IDs like 0001 and 1000 sort correctly and look professional.

Skip existing IDs

Safe to run repeatedly. Only records without an ID get one. Existing IDs are never overwritten.

Live preview before writing

See the generated ID for every record before anything is written to your table.

Part of the Filla Platform

Every plan includes forms, 15+ processor tools, and document generation -- all connected to your Airtable base.

Form Builder

Conditional logic, multi-step, linked records

Custom Forms

Beyond native Airtable forms

15+ Processor Tools

Validate, transform, and enrich data

Document Generation

PDFs, contracts, and reports from records