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.
Note
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.
- menu
- Accounting ‣ Customers ‣ Invoices ‣ (open the last invoice) ‣ Reset to Draft
- shows
- Draft invoice whose number field (e.g., INV/2025/00012) is being edited to a new format (e.g., INV/2025/09/0001).
- highlight
- The invoice number field (red frame).
- data
- Demo company "YourCompany HU".
- module
- account
- notes
- English UI, light theme, 1440px width.
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.
- menu
- Accounting ‣ Customers ‣ Invoices ‣ (edited draft invoice)
- shows
- The message below the invoice number explaining that the detected format will be applied to future invoices and that the sequence will restart every month.
- highlight
- The message (red frame).
- data
- Demo company "YourCompany HU".
- module
- account
- notes
- English UI, light theme, 1440px width. Crop to the upper part of the form.
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.
Note
This feature is only available to users with administrator or advisor access.
Follow these steps to resequence invoice numbers:
Activate the developer mode.
From the accounting dashboard (), open the Customer Invoices journal.
Select the invoices that need a new sequence.
Click the Actions menu and select Resequence.
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.
Set the First New Sequence.
Preview Modifications and click Confirm.
- menu
- Accounting ‣ Customers ‣ Invoices ‣ (select invoices) ‣ Actions ‣ Resequence
- shows
- "Resequence" dialog with the Ordering option, the First New Sequence field and the preview of the modifications.
- highlight
- The "First New Sequence" field and the preview (red frame).
- data
- Several invoices selected; developer mode enabled.
- module
- account
- notes
- English UI, light theme, crop to the dialog.
Note
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.