---
title: "Setup: Project Naming And Numbering"
description: "Set up automatic project names and numbers in Exterio: build a naming template from fields like last name and street, and set a number prefix and padding."
---
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October 27, 2026
# Setup: Project Naming And Numbering
## Exterio names and numbers every new project for you, so every job in your account follows the same pattern. You choose what goes into the name, like the homeowner’s last name, the street and the work type, and how the project number looks, like SR-0485.
### When would I use this?
- You’re setting up Exterio and want project names to match how your team talks about jobs.
- Your team finds jobs by address, and you want the street in every project name.
- You’re moving from another system and want project numbers to pick up where your old ones left off.
- Your proposals, invoices and paperwork need a project number on them.
### Before you start
- **Only users with Feature Settings access can change naming and numbering.** By default, that’s Admins and Managers.
- **Changes apply to new projects.** Existing projects keep their names and numbers.
- **Decide on your pattern before your team starts adding projects.** Consistent names make projects easier to find and sort.
### How do I open these settings in Exterio?
- **Project names:** go to **Settings** \> **Feature Settings** \> **Projects** \> **Naming Convention**.
- **Project numbers:** go to **Settings** \> **Feature Settings** \> **Projects** \> **Project Numbering**.
### How does automatic naming work?
You build a template from fields, and Exterio fills in the real details each time a project is created.
For example, the template {lastName} - {street} - {workType} names a project “Woods - 123 Main St - Roofing.”
### How do I set up the project name?
Click fields and separators to build your template, check the preview, and click **Save Changes**.
1. Go to **Settings** \> **Feature Settings** \> **Projects** \> **Naming Convention**.
2. Clear the **Template** box if you’re starting over.
3. Under **Available Fields**, click each field you want, in order.
4. Between fields, click a separator under **Separators**: **Dash -**, **Pipe |**, **Comma ,** or **Slash /**.
5. Check the **Preview** to see how a project name will look.
6. Click **Save Changes**.
7. Go to **Settings** \> **Feature Settings** \> **Projects** \> **Project Numbering**.
8. Turn on **Enable Project Numbers**. Numbers then show across the app, including on the project board, list view, project details, search results and PDFs.
9. Enter a **Prefix** if you want one, like “SR-” or “PRJ-.” Use up to 10 letters, numbers and hyphens. Add the hyphen yourself if you want one between the prefix and the number.
10. Enter the **Next Project Number**, the number the next new project will get.
11. Choose the **Number Padding**, the minimum number of digits. For example, 4 digits turns 7 into 0007.
12. Check the **Preview**, then click **Save Changes**.
You can also type in the **Template** box directly. To go back to Exterio’s standard pattern, click **Reset to Default**.
### ****
### What fields can I use in a project name?
| **Field** | **Example** |
| --- | --- |
| **Last Name** | Woods |
| **First Name** | Pat |
| **Full Name** | Pat Woods |
| **Company** | Woods Property Group |
| **Street Address** | 123 Main St |
| **City** | Springfield |
| **State** | IL |
| **Zip Code** | 62704 |
| **Work Type** | Roofing |
| **Track** | Insurance |
| **Salesperson** | Brian Kuske |
| **Project Number** | SR-0485 |
### What naming patterns work well?
| **Pattern** | **Example** | **Good for** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Last Name - Street - Work Type | Woods - 123 Main St - Roofing | Most companies. Easy to find by name or address |
| Street - City | 123 Main St - Springfield | Teams that think in addresses, like production crews |
| Project Number - Last Name | SR-0485 - Woods | Companies that refer to jobs by number |
| Last Name - Work Type - Track | Woods - Roofing - Insurance | Mixed retail and insurance work |
### How do I turn on project numbers?
Turn on **Enable Project Numbers**, set your prefix and starting number, and click **Save Changes**.
### Can I start numbering where my old system left off?
Yes. Set **Next Project Number** one higher than your last job number in your old system. For example, if your last job was 1484, enter 1485.
You can’t set **Next Project Number** lower than a number already in use in Exterio. That keeps two projects from ever sharing a number.
### Tips and gotchas
- **Put what your team searches for in the name.** If your team looks up jobs by street, put the street in the name. If they use the homeowner’s name, start with the last name.
- **Keep names short.** A name with six fields gets cut off on the project board. Two or three fields is usually plenty.
- **Add the work type if you do more than one trade.** “Woods - 123 Main St - Roofing” and “Woods - 123 Main St - Gutters” are easy to tell apart. Without the work type, they look the same.
- **Include the hyphen in your prefix.** A prefix of “SR” gives you SR0485. A prefix of “SR-” gives you SR-0485.
- **Set the number before your team starts.** Changing the next number later leaves a gap, which can confuse anyone who’s counting on numbers in order.
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