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Microsoft Dynamics AX (Archived)

Preallocation of non continuous number sequences

Posted on by 25

Morning all,

Quick query about preallocation of non continuous number sequences.

Microsoft's documentation is clear that unless there is a specific requirement you should use non continuous number sequences in the interests of maximising performance, and so I'm considering switching some number sequences from continuous to non continuous.

However, Microsoft's documentation is not very clear on how preallocation works.

I have been told that it works at user level, and when a user opens for example a new purchase order transaction, AX will generate a pool of purchase order numbers (of the size specified in the "Quantity of numbers" section in the performance FastTab of the number sequences form) in memory which are then available to that user only. Any other user opening a new purchase order transaction would have their own unique, preallocated pool generated which would be available only to them. If the user logs out without using all of their preallocated pool the unused numbers are lost (as is the nature of noncontinuous number sequences so in itself not a problem).

The more I think about it the more odd it seems that the pools are user specific. That could lead to number sequences being spent far more quickly than would be convenient. I would have expected the pool of preallocated numbers to be shared amongst all users. It would reduce the number of calls to the database to create a new pool (performance enhancing in itself) and would leave fewer numbers unused thus increasing the longevity of the number sequence in question. Is that not possible because if the application was being run on multiple AOS it would require shared memory between those AOS to maintain a single pool per noncontinuous number sequence?

I guess my main question is; have I been lied to?

Are preallocated pools really generated and used at user level, or are pools shared by all users and numbers are only lost when transactions that use them are abandoned without being completed?

Thanks in advance.

*This post is locked for comments

  • PrzemekG Profile Picture
    PrzemekG 725 on at
    RE: Preallocation of non continuous number sequences

    Unfortunately, this blog post is no longer available.

  • Rossatron Profile Picture
    Rossatron 25 on at
    RE: Preallocation of non continuous number sequences - AX 2012

    Thanks, Nikolaos.

    That blog post gives a nice example which will help me illustrate this to users too.

    Much appreciated.

  • Verified answer
    nmaenpaa Profile Picture
    nmaenpaa 101,156 on at
    RE: Preallocation of non continuous number sequences - AX 2012

    The preallocation works on the client / user level:

    blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/.../how-preallocated-number-sequences-are-cached-in-ax

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