How to set the date

This article will provide a detailed explanation of how to generate a date-stamped serial number, and will explain the commonly used formatting techniques for time variables. It will also provide a practical method for combining time stamps with encoding, helping users to easily resolve problems with repeated serial numbers and improve the efficiency of data management.

Why do we need serial numbers with dates?

Many of our customers have encountered similar problems when managing their products: serial numbers are easily duplicated, and tracking is difficult.If date information is added, it can not only quickly identify the production batch, it can also avoid conflicts in the codes.For example, "20230915-001" clearly means the first item produced on September 15, 2023. This format is particularly suitable for scenarios where inventory is updated frequently.

This is the core step of the time variable setting.

Choose date format.

The format of the date should be determined according to real needs.If you want to reduce the number of characters, you can use "yymmdd" (230915). If you want a more intuitive system, try "yyyy-mm-dd" (2023-09-15).Please do not use a slash mark ("/") as some systems will mistake it for a file path.

Binding time variables.

Remember to set the time zone when calling the time function.For example, by using the datetime library in Python, first specify 'timezone('Asia/Shanghai')' and then generate 'datetime.now()'. This will ensure that the generated date and time are in sync with the actual time.

The serial number.

The number of the day and month should be connected by a short dash or underscore.For example, "20230915_001." This is both neat and convenient for splitting up the data.If mass production is involved, then a three-digit serial number can be added after the date, which is enough to handle 999 pieces a day.

Practical cases: Coding schemes for different environments.

Small handicrafts.

If you are entering the information by hand, I recommend the format "year + month + day + two-digit serial number." For example, 20230915-01.After you enter the current date, Excel will automatically increase the last two digits. It's a real time-saver.

Automation production system.

When a database is automatically generated, a time stamp can be included.For example, a Unix timestamp (e.g. 1694764800) can be combined with random letters to create a unique code like 1694764800-A3X9, which is not only unique but also easy to trace.

A scene from a cross-time-zone collaboration.

If the team members are located in different time zones, it is essential to use UTC time and to mark the time zone after the date.For instance, "20230915T1200Z-001" means that the picture was taken at 12: 00 noon on September 15, 2023, in UTC time.

A guide to avoiding pitfalls: Solutions to common problems.

If you encounter the problem of duplicate serial numbers, try adding a batch identifier after the date, such as "M" for the morning shift and "N" for the night shift.If you are concerned that the characters are too long, you can use the first three letters of the month name (e.g. SEP in place of 09). But remember to be consistent, otherwise you will create confusion.

Finally, it is important to test the system. Simulate the generation of 100,000 codes to see if there are any duplications. Also, check the codes in Excel to see if they are compatible with the format.After all, spending an extra 10 minutes on the test can save a lot of trouble later on.