Defining the Allowed Number Range

 

Standard charts of accounts are recommended in most countries. These are generally created so that the numbers of similar accounts begin with the same digits. You use the account group in the chart of accounts to indicate this grouping principle.

When you define an account group, you also specify the number range that is allowed for the accounts of that group. When creating a G/L account, you cannot select an account number that lies outside that range.

Example Example

The account numbers of bank accounts and petty cash accounts begin with the number 1. These accounts are in the account group Liquid Assets. The allowed number range for this account group is 100000 to 129999.

If you create a G/L account with this account group and specify the account number as 131000, it would be rejected since it is outside the allowed number range for this account group.

End of the example.

The allowed number ranges for account groups can overlap. As a result, for G/L accounts that you do not want to assign to any special area, you can create a separate account group that has a number range already contained in a different account group.

Note Note

You can change the allowed number range of an account group at any time. For more information, see Changing the Account Group.

End of the note.

Prerequisites

In the chart of accounts list, you have defined the length of the account numbers for the entire chart of accounts.

For more information, see Chart of Accounts List.

Features

You have the following options when assigning account numbers:

  • You can reassign the account numbers of G/L accounts that were previously deleted.

  • You can assign alphanumeric account numbers.

The maximum length of account numbers is 10 characters.

Purely numeric account numbers are automatically filled out with zeroes from the left. Alphanumeric account numbers are filled out with spaces from the right.

Recommendation Recommendation

To achieve a logical system of account numbers, follow these recommendations:

  • Use account numbers that are always the same length.

  • Use either alphanumeric or numeric account numbers, but not both.

End of the recommendation.

Activities

To define the number range for an account group, in Customizing choose Start of the navigation path Financial Accounting (New) Next navigation step General Ledger Accounting (New) Next navigation step Master Data Next navigation step G/L Accounts Next navigation step Preparations Next navigation step Define Account Group End of the navigation path.