Bistone HMS gives you full control over how reservation numbers (invoice codes) are generated. You can create a custom format that matches your hotel's branding or local requirements. The reservation code is also used as the invoice number on guest bills.
Where to Find the Settings
Go to Settings -> Code in the main menu. Locate the entry named Reservation Code. Select it and click the Edit button. The Edit Code Mask dialog will open.
Understanding the Edit Code Mask Dialog
This dialog allows you to configure three independent parts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) and a generating method. The final reservation code is the concatenation of Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3 (without separators). A live preview shows the result as you change settings.
Generating Method
Choose one of four behaviors:
- Automatically Generate - The code is created automatically when the reservation is made, following the Part 1/2/3 rules. The code becomes read-only and cannot be edited later.
- Automatically Generate And Can Edit - Same auto generation, but the user is allowed to manually edit the code after creation.
- Generate After Saving - The code is generated only after the reservation is saved (not at the moment of creation). This is useful when you need a final sequential number after data entry is complete.
- Not Generate - The system does not create any automatic code. The user must enter the reservation code manually.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 Options
Each part can be independently set to one of the following generation rules:
- [None] - No value for this part.
- yy - Two-digit year (e.g., 26).
- yymm - Two-digit year + two-digit month (e.g., 2606).
- yymmdd - Two-digit year + month + day (e.g., 260615).
- yyyy - Four-digit year (e.g., 2026).
- yyyymm - Four-digit year + two-digit month (e.g., 202606).
- yyyymmdd - Four-digit year + month + day (e.g., 20260615).
- Sequence No - A simple sequential number starting from 1 with no fixed width (1,2,3...).
- SN 2D (00) - Two-digit sequence (01,02...99).
- SN 3D (000) - Three-digit sequence (001,002...999).
- SN 4D (0000) - Four-digit sequence (0001...9999).
- SN 5D (00000) - Five-digit sequence (00001...99999).
- SN 6D (000000) - Six-digit sequence (000001...999999).
- SN 7D (0000000) - Seven-digit sequence (0000001...9999999).
- SN 8D (00000000) - Eight-digit sequence (00000001...99999999).
- Customizing - Enter any fixed text (e.g., "INV-", "HOTEL", "RES"). This value will be used as-is for that part.
The sequence numbers are independent per part and restart based on your selection (e.g., daily reset if using date parts).
Preview
At the bottom of the Edit Code Mask dialog, a Preview field shows a real-time example of how your reservation code will look. This helps you verify the format before saving.
Default Format Example
Default system format: The Customizing value for Part 1 is empty, Part 2 uses a code mask of yymmdd, and Part 3 is SN 5D (00000). This produces codes like 26061500001 (June 15, 2026, first reservation of that day).