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Serial Number and Navigation Buttons

Serial Number and Navigation Buttons

In many alameen ERP 10 cards, invoices, and entries you will find the serial number field and the navigation buttons at the top of the window. This section explains what this number does, how to look up records, and how to use the navigation buttons to move quickly through the data you have entered.

Why Is This Part Important?​

Understanding the serial number and the navigation buttons is one of the basics of using the program, because they appear in many windows and are used in almost the same way everywhere.

Once you master this part, you can:

  • Reach a particular record quickly.
  • Move between records without going back to the lists every time.
  • Understand how cards, invoices, and entries are numbered.
  • Tell the enabled buttons from the disabled ones while navigating.

Serial Number​

The serial number appears in a field at the top of the window, usually in the middle of the navigation buttons.

This number is the identifier of the current record, whether it is:

  • a card
  • an invoice
  • an entry
  • or any similar record in the program

How Does the Serial Number Work?​

The program follows the principle of unique numbering, so when you create a new record, the system suggests a serial number that has not been used before.

This means each record has its own number that distinguishes it from the others, and the same number should not be repeated within the same type of record.

:::info Important While creating a new record, you can change the number the program suggests and enter another number, provided it has not been used before. :::

Can the Number Be Changed After the Record Is Saved?​

No. After the record is added and saved, its serial number cannot be changed.

So it is best to check the number before saving if you have a special numbering scheme at work.

How Do I Look Up a Record by Its Number?​

To reach a record entered earlier:

  1. Type the serial number in its field at the top of the window.
  2. Press Enter.
  3. The program goes straight to the record that has this number.

This is very useful when you know the number of the card, invoice, or entry you want to open directly.

Tip

If you already know the record number, this is usually the fastest way to reach it.

What Happens When a Record Is Deleted?​

If a record is deleted, its serial number is not given to a new record later.

This keeps the sequence of the data clear, and prevents reusing deleted numbers in a way that could cause confusion in follow-up or review.


The navigation buttons are usually next to the serial number field, and are used to move between the records in the same window.

Navigation Buttons

These buttons appear in many of the program's cards, invoices, and entries, and mean almost the same thing wherever they appear.

What the Navigation Buttons Do​

The six buttons are usually in the following order:

  1. Go to the first record
  2. Go back ten records
  3. Move to previous record
  4. Move to next record
  5. Go forward ten records
  6. Go to the last record

When Do I Use Each Button?​

Go to the First Record​

Use it when you want to go straight to the first record in this window.

Go Back Ten Records​

Useful for quickly reviewing a set of earlier records, instead of going back one record at a time.

Move to Previous Record​

Use it to go back just one step, to the record before the current one.

Move to Next Record​

Use it to go one step forward and see the next record directly.

Go Forward Ten Records​

Useful for browsing a larger number of records quickly, especially when there is a lot of data.

Go to the Last Record​

Use it to go straight to the newest, or last, record in the current window.


States of the Navigation Buttons​

The navigation buttons have two main states:

1) Enabled​

In this state the button can be clicked and responds to the user, and its arrow is shown more clearly.

This means there is a record to move to in that direction.

2) Disabled​

In this state the button cannot be used, and it looks lighter, or faded, compared with the enabled state.

This happens when there is no record to move to in that direction.

Practical Example​

If the record shown is the last record, there is no next record after it, so the Move to next record button is disabled.

Likewise, if you are on the first record, the buttons that go back are not enabled.


Practical Examples​

I Want to Open a Particular Invoice Whose Number I Know​

  • Type the invoice number in the serial number field.
  • Press Enter.
  • You go straight to the invoice.

I Want to Review the Invoices One by One​

  • Open the first invoice, or any invoice you want.
  • Use Move to next record and Move to previous record to move step by step.

I Want to Browse the Records Quickly​

  • Use Go back ten records or Go forward ten records instead of moving one at a time.

I Want to Reach the Newest Record Quickly​

  • Use the last record button.

Common Mistakes to Watch For​

  • Trying to enter a number that is already used when creating a new record.
  • Expecting to be able to change the number after the record is saved.
  • Thinking that a deleted number will be reused later.
  • Assuming that a disabled button is a problem, when the real reason is that there is no record to move to in that direction.

When Should I Come Back to This Page?​

Come back to this page when:

  • You want to understand the number field at the top of the window.
  • You need to reach a particular record quickly by its number.
  • You do not know what one of the navigation buttons does.
  • You want to understand why some arrows are disabled while browsing.
  • You are using the program for the first time and want to understand how to browse records.

Quick Navigation​

Tip

If you work with many records, combining the serial number field with the navigation buttons gives you the fastest way to reach and review them.