You can use activity numbers to distinguish between activities with similar names. All of your non-retired activities must have distinct numbers (either within a site or across all sites).
You can reuse activity numbers when an activity is retired, so you do not need to make the number specific to a year.
You can also use activity numbers as a way to search for activities using a full or partial number.
Your activity numbers can be up to 20 digits long. Although your numbering system can be in any format within those 20 digits, recommended best practices are as follows:
Work with your consultant.
Decide on a numbering system and keep it consistent. The option to enforce a numbering system is found in the Registration Configuration screen.
Keep the numbering system simple:
Decide how many activity categories will be used, leaving room for expansion, then determine a numbering system that will accommodate these categories.
Use the first few digits to group together similar activity categories or activities (or both if you require a more complex numbering system).
Embedding too much information into the numbering system is generally not recommended as it can be difficult to remember the significance of all the digits. You can already use many criteria when searching for an activity including name, facility, season, category, supervisor, instructor and site, so there is no benefit to an overly complicated numbering scheme.
xxxx.xxx (example: 2310.102)
First 4 digits = main activity numbers
example: 2310 where 2 = Adult Sports, 3 = Golf, 1 = Beginner
5th digit = season
example: 1 = Spring
6th and 7th digit = specific activity number
example 02 = second activity in list (01 is 9am, 02 is 11am, 03 is 1pm, etc.)