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Draw Number from Number Series

Use the Draw number from number series step to get the next number from a Business Central number series and reuse it later in the flow. It works with any number series set up in Business Central, exactly like the ones that number your sales orders, items or customers.

Typical use cases:

  • Give your own reference numbers to records a flow creates, taken from a dedicated series.
  • Build a file name or e-mail subject that carries a running number.
  • Hand out a unique token for something the flow processes, so every run gets its own value.
The number is consumed

Drawing a number advances the series, just like Business Central does when it numbers a document. The number you get is used up and will never be handed out again. If a flow runs twice, each run draws its own next number.

Configure the step​

Open the flow editor, add Draw number from number series, and fill in the configuration card.

Description​

Specifies a meaningful description for this step. It is shown in the editor and in the execution history. Name the intent, for example Draw next claim number.

Slug​

The internal identifier used in SmartField references. Renaming it updates references throughout the flow automatically.

Number Series​

The number series to draw from. Use the lookup to pick a series that already exists in Business Central, or type a SmartField reference such as {{trigger.seriesCode}} to take the code from an earlier step. Press Alt+S to open the SmartField picker.

Usage Date​

Optional. Some number series use different lines depending on the date. Leave this empty to use the work date, which matches how Business Central normally assigns numbers. You can also enter a fixed date or a SmartField reference when a flow needs to draw for a specific date.

Using the result​

The step produces a single output named Number that holds the drawn value. Reference it in later steps with {{<slug>.Number}}, where <slug> is this step's slug. For example, an Insert Record step further down the flow can write the drawn number into the No. field of the record it creates.

Good to know​

  • If the number series does not exist, or is set to manual numbering, or has no line for the chosen date, the step stops with an error explaining what went wrong. Fix the series in Business Central and run the flow again.
  • Because each draw consumes a number, gaps can appear in a series when a flow later fails. This is normal and matches how Business Central itself behaves.