> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://filla.io/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Unique ID Generator

> Generate sequential, formatted IDs for Airtable records with configurable counters and zero-padding.

## What this tool does

The Unique ID Generator assigns formatted sequential IDs to records in your Airtable table. You control the starting number, padding, and how often the counter resets. Useful for creating order numbers, ticket IDs, invoice numbers, or any identifier that needs to be sequential and human-readable.

## Settings reference

### Source

| Setting          | Description                                                 |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Source table** | The table to generate IDs for.                              |
| **Output field** | The Single Line Text field where generated IDs are written. |

### Counter settings

| Setting           | Description                                                                 |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Counter scope** | When the counter resets: Never reset, Reset each year, or Reset each month. |
| **Start number**  | The first number after a reset (default: 1).                                |
| **Zero padding**  | Minimum number of digits. Set to 3 for `001`, 4 for `0001`. Range: 1–8.     |

### Handling

| Setting                                  | Description                                                                      |
| ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Skip records that already have an ID** | When on, records with an existing value in the output field are not overwritten. |

## How IDs are formatted

The ID is the sequential number formatted with the configured zero-padding.

**Examples:**

* Padding 3, Start 1: `001`, `002`, `003`
* Padding 4, Start 100: `0100`, `0101`, `0102`
* Padding 1, Start 1: `1`, `2`, `3`

## Counter reset behavior

| Scope                | Counter resets                                                     |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Never reset**      | Counter increments forever, from `001` through `999999` and beyond |
| **Reset each year**  | Counter resets to Start number on January 1                        |
| **Reset each month** | Counter resets to Start number on the first of each month          |

Resetting produces IDs like `001` for the first record each year or month.

## Using the preview

The preview panel shows the IDs that would be generated for your records before you run. Use it to verify the format looks right.

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I add a prefix or suffix to the ID?">
    The tool generates numeric IDs with padding. If you need a prefix like `INV-001`, use the Text Processor tool to prepend `INV-` to the output field after generating the IDs, or use an Airtable formula field that concatenates your prefix with the generated number.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if two records get the same ID?">
    The tool assigns IDs in the order records are fetched from Airtable. If you run the tool twice without "Skip already processed" and without filters, records could get reassigned IDs. Always enable "Skip records that already have an ID" to prevent overwrites.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I start from a number other than 1?">
    Yes. Set **Start number** to any number. If your existing highest ID is `INV-042`, set Start number to `43` to continue from there.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>