Invoice sequence

When confirming an invoice, Odoo generates a unique invoice reference number. By default, it uses the sequence format INV/year/incrementing-number (e.g., INV/2025/00001), which restarts from 00001 each year.

However, it is possible to change the sequence format and its periodicity, and to mass-resequence invoices.

Notitie

Changes made to reference numbers are logged in the chatter.

Changing the default sequence

To customize the default sequence, open the last confirmed invoice, click Reset to Draft, and edit the invoice’s reference number.

Editing the reference number of an invoice.

Odoo then explains how the detected format will be applied to all future invoices. For example, if the current invoice’s month is added, the sequence’s periodicity will change to every month instead of every year.

Editing the reference number of an invoice.

Tip

The sequence format can be edited directly when creating the first invoice of a given sequence period.

Mass-resequencing invoices

It can be helpful to resequence multiple invoice numbers. For example, when importing invoices from another invoicing or accounting system and the reference originates from the previous software, continuity for the current year must be maintained without restarting from the beginning.

Notitie

This feature is only available to users with administrator or advisor access.

Follow these steps to resequence invoice numbers:

  1. Activeer de ontwikkelmodus.

  2. From the Accounting Dashboard, open the Customer Invoices journal.

  3. Select the invoices that need a new sequence.

  4. Click the Actions menu and select Resequence.

  5. In the Ordering field, choose to

    • Keep current order: The order of the numbers remains the same.

    • Reorder by accounting date: The number is reordered by accounting date.

  6. Set the First New Sequence.

  7. Preview Modifications and click Confirm.

Resequence options window

Notitie

  • To indicate where the sequence change began, the first invoice in the new sequence is highlighted in red in the Customer Invoices list. This visual marker is permanent and purely informational.

  • If there are any irregularities in the new sequence, such as gaps, cancelled, or deleted entries within the open period, a Gaps in the sequence message appears in the Customer Invoices journal on the Accounting dashboard. To view more details about the related invoice(s), click Gaps in the sequence. This visual marker is temporary and will disappear once the entry’s accounting date is on or after the lock date.

Tip

Resequencing is not possible:

  • When entries are before a lock date.

  • When the sequence leads to a duplicate.

  • When the range is invalid. For example, if the Invoice Date doesn’t align with the date in the new sequence, such as using a 2024 sequence (INV/2024/XXXXX) for an invoice dated in 2025.

In these cases, a Validation Error message appears.