Deciding how to code items

The item codes determine the order of items in the standard database, spreadsheet, lists, and reports. When assigning codes to your items, keep the following tips in mind:

• The maximum length is 15 characters.
• Item codes are case sensitive and may include just numbers or a combination of numbers, letters, and spaces.

• Codes are more meaningful if they include letters and numbers. This will help you remember items and find them easily. Example

  Example: Codes with both letters and numbers are more meaningful than just numbers.

  Item	Numeric	Alphanumeric
  Concrete 2500 psi	10	c 25
  Concrete 3500 psi	20	c 35
  Wiremesh 6x6 4/4	30	w 44
  Wiremesh 6x6 6/6	40	w 66

• You can group similar items by starting their codes with the same one or two characters. Example

  Example: The codes for concrete items could start with a "c" and indicate their psi strength.

  c 20 Concrete 2000 psi

  c 25 Concrete 2500 psi

  c 30 Concrete 3000 psi

  c 35 Concrete 3500 psi

• It is easy to insert additional items in the desired order if you increment the code numbers by five or ten. Example

  Example: If you increment the item codes by five, you can later insert up to four more codes between items 10 and 15.

  Increment numbers by 5	Insert codes later
  3.000 CONCRETE  3.820 Concrete Finish   10 Trowel Finish   15 Finish Curb & Gutter	3.000 CONCRETE  3.820 Concrete Finish   10 Trowel Finish   11 Broom/Float Finish   12 Exposed Aggregate Finish   13 Pattern Imprint   14 Color Tinted   15 Finish Curb & Gutter