INF: How To Create a Shorter Order ID

ID: Q172662

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Commerce Server, version 2.0

SUMMARY

Microsoft Commerce Server 2.0 creates a 26 character order ID for each shopper's order. This order ID is a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) generated by the Windows NT system, and is difficult for hackers to guess. However, some merchants have a requirement to create and save a shorter order ID. This article describes ways to generate shorter order IDs.

MORE INFORMATION

Put Your Own Format Order ID on the Order Form When It Is Initially Created

One way to create shorter IDs is to put your own format order ID onto the order form when it is initially created. When the order pipeline runs normally, no order_id name/value-pair exists, so Commerce Server creates one. If the order_id name/value-pair already exists, Commerce Server does not attempt to overwrite it.

To do this, perform the following steps:

1. Create a database table that holds the last assigned order_id. Create a

   stored procedure that fetches the next order ID to be assigned, and
   remembers it as the last assigned order_id. For example, the following
   Microsoft SQL Server script does this for the ClockPed store:

   /*
   * Create a table to hold the last assigned order number. Seed it at 100.
   *
   */ 

   drop table ClockPed_ordernumber
   go

   create table ClockPed_ordernumber(
      order_id int)
   go

   INSERT ClockPed_ordernumber VALUES (100)
   go

   drop proc sp_CPgetorderid
   go
   CREATE PROCEDURE sp_CPgetorderid
   @ide int = 0
   AS
   UPDATE ClockPed_ordernumber
   SET next_order_id = next_order_id+1 , @ide = next_order_id
   SELECT @ide order_id
   go

   and save the order_id onto newly created order forms. Again, in
   ClockPed, this would be something like the following:

   if IsEmpty(orderForm) then
   REM -- create a new orderform:
   set orderForm = Server.CreateObject("Commerce.OrderForm")
   orderForm.shopper_id = shopperID
   orderForm.date_created = Now

   REM Retrieve the next available order_id number from the database
   REM
   on error resume next
   set o_id = MSCSDataSource.Execute("EXEC sp_CPgetorderid")(0)
   on error goto 0
   if Not IsEmpty(o_id) then
      orderForm.order_id = o_id.order_id
   end if

   REM -- add item to orderform:
   set item = orderForm.AddItem(CStr(product_sku), product_qty, 0)

Create a New Column in the Database Table that Holds the Order Information

If you want a shorter order_id for the convenience of a shopper, you can create a new identity column in the database table that holds the order information. This column would be incremented automatically by SQL Server, whenever an order is saved to the database. You can then retrieve the identity column value that corresponds to a given order_id generated by Commerce Server, and display it to the shopper on your purchase confirmed page.

To do this, perform the following steps:

1. Alter your receipt table to contain a new identity column. The following

   SQL Server script alters the vc_receipt table of the Volcano Coffee
   store:

   delete from vc_receipt
   go
   alter table vc_receipt add NewOrder_ID int identity

   <% OrderID = Request("order_id")
   set test = DataSource.Execute("select neworder_id from vc_receipt where
   order_id = :1",  OrderID)(0) %>

   <TR><TD colspan=3>For future reference, please make a note of the
   tracking number for this order.</TD></TR>
   <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
   <TR><TD><img src="<% =Application("Images") %>images/trackno.gif"
   valign=bottom></td><td  valign=top><b>
   <% = test.neworder_id %>
   </b></td></TD><td>&nbsp;</td></TR>

Keywords          : kbprg kbusage CommMisc 
Version           : 2.0
Platform          : winnt
Issue type        : kbhowto kbinfo

Last Reviewed: December 9, 1997