The asset number uniquely identifies a fixed asset. It always consists of the main asset number and the asset sub-number. There are two ways of carrying out number assignment in the system:

• External number assignment
• Internal number assignment

In the case of external number assignment, the user directly assigns the asset number. The system displays only the defined number interval, and issues an error message if a number is already assigned. In the case of internal number assignment, the system automatically assigns consecutive numbers.

You define the number ranges at company code level. In Customizing for the asset class, specify the number range per company code, and specify whether assignment from the number range should be carried out externally or internally. Alphanumeric intervals can only be assigned externally.

You should choose sufficiently large intervals, since an extension is not possible if the extension already belongs to another interval. When you reach the last 10 percent of the maximum assignable asset numbers of an interval, the system notifies you that the number interval will soon be exhausted. When the last number of the interval has been assigned, the system issues a further warning. You should pay attention to these warnings and extend the intervals in time or assign a new number range for the asset classes involved.

If you want several company codes to use the same number assignment (cross-company code), you can maintain the number range in one company code, and assign the other company codes to this company code for number assignment.

Cross-company code number assignment in Customizing for Asset Accounting (Define Cross-Company Code Number Assignment):

The asset main number has 12 alphanumeric characters. Number assignment is controlled by the asset class. You specify the number range for an asset class in the asset class. In this way you ensure that number assignment is uniform for the asset class. You can choose between external and internal number assignment by specifying a correspondingly defined number range. Several asset classes can use the same number range.

The asset sub-number has four numeric characters. The first sub-number is assigned at the same time as the main number and is noted as a main asset master record. You do not have to define number ranges for the sub-number assignment. You specify in the asset class whether sub-numbers are assigned externally or internally.

• In the case of internal assignment, the sub-numbers are assigned consecutively for each main number starting with "0000".
• When you use external assignment, you can use your own method for assigning numbers. It is recommended that you devise your own method, especially for complex fixed assets that have component parts. In this way, you can look at and report on the sub-numbers for certain asset components at the same time by using the generic selection of sub-numbers.