Unique ID Customization

This feature allows developers to customize the appearance and format of generated IDs with configurable properties such as length, case, prefixes/suffixes, dash formatting, and timestamp inclusion.

Overview

General ID Customization provides a flexible way to adjust how unique IDs are generated and displayed. It enables developers to set the character length, choose upper or lower case, add prefixes or suffixes, control dash insertion and interval, and include timestamps—all of which help tailor the IDs to specific application needs.

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Key Points

Aspect	Details
Length	Specifies the number of characters in the generated ID (excluding any prefix or suffix); minimum allowed length is 16 characters.
UseUpperCase	Determines whether the generated ID is automatically converted to uppercase.
Prefix/Suffix	Optional strings that are appended to the beginning (prefix) or end (suffix) of the generated ID to provide additional context or formatting.
IncludeDashes	Enables insertion of dashes within the generated ID to improve readability.
DashInterval	Defines the interval at which dashes are inserted into the ID (for example, every 4 characters).
UseTimestamp	Option to incorporate a timestamp into the ID generation process, which can aid in ensuring uniqueness and traceability.

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Best Practices

Practice Area	Recommendation
Setting Length	Ensure that the Length property meets the minimum requirement (at least 16) to avoid exceptions.
Case Sensitivity	Decide on UseUpperCase based on the context where case sensitivity matters; use uppercase for consistency in environments with case-insensitive comparisons.
Prefix and Suffix	Use meaningful prefixes/suffixes to indicate the context or type of IDs being generated, which can help in debugging and tracing.
Dash Configuration	Configure IncludeDashes and DashInterval to enhance readability, especially in logs or user interfaces where long strings might be overwhelming.
Timestamp Inclusion	Enable UseTimestamp when chronological tracking is required, but be aware that it may slightly alter the randomness of the ID.

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Common Pitfalls

Issue	Explanation	Recommendation
Invalid Length	Setting Length to a value less than 16 will throw an exception.	Always validate that Length is set to 16 or greater.
Inconsistent Formatting	Neglecting to configure Prefix/Suffix or dash options can lead to IDs that are difficult to parse or compare.	Standardize formatting options according to your application’s requirements.
Overusing Special Characters	Excessive customization may lead to IDs that are hard to handle in certain systems or when integrating with external APIs.	Balance customization with simplicity; test IDs in your integration environment.
Overcomplicating Timestamp Usage	Including timestamps in IDs without clear documentation may confuse consumers of the ID if they expect purely random identifiers.	Document the usage of timestamps clearly and consider whether the extra information is necessary for your application.

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Usage Scenarios

Scenario	Description	Example Integration
Standard Unique ID Generation	Generating simple unique identifiers for database records or session tokens.	See code sample below.
Readable Identifier Formatting	Creating IDs that are easy to read, for instance by inserting dashes and using uppercase characters for visual clarity.	Configure IncludeDashes, DashInterval, and UseUpperCase as shown in the sample code.
Context-Specific IDs with Prefix/Suffix	Adding contextual information (e.g., environment or type indicator) to each ID via prefix/suffix customization.	Set the Prefix and Suffix properties to reflect context-specific markers.
Chronologically Traceable IDs	Including timestamps in IDs to provide a built-in record of when the ID was generated.	Enable UseTimestamp for IDs that need to be traceable to their creation time.

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Real Life Usage Scenarios

Scenario	Description	Example
Distributed Systems	In microservices architecture, using customized IDs (with a prefix indicating the service and a timestamp) to ensure traceability and uniqueness.	Prefix might indicate the microservice name, while UseTimestamp ensures temporal uniqueness.
Logging and Auditing	IDs used in logging that include dashes and timestamps can be easily parsed during audits.	IncludeDashes with a defined DashInterval improves log readability and traceability.
User-Facing Identifiers	When exposing identifiers to users (e.g., order numbers or tracking IDs), a consistent format with upper case letters and separators aids in communication.	UseUpperCase, Prefix, and Suffix can be used to create a recognizable pattern.
API Key Generation	Generating API keys that need to be unique and follow a specific pattern that includes both randomness and identifiable context.	Customization with Length, UseUpperCase, and optional Prefix/Suffix ensures keys meet the security and format requirements.

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Troubleshooting Tips

Problem	Possible Cause	Suggested Fix
Exception on Setting Length	Length is set below the minimum threshold of 16.	Verify and set Length to 16 or higher.
Unexpected Lowercase Output	UseUpperCase property is set to false.	Set UseUpperCase to true if uppercase output is desired.
Misplaced Dashes or Missing Dashes	IncludeDashes is false or DashInterval is misconfigured (e.g., zero or negative).	Enable IncludeDashes and set DashInterval to a positive integer (e.g., 4).
Incorrect Prefix/Suffix Application	The generated ID does not appear with the intended prefix or suffix.	Confirm that the Prefix and Suffix properties are set correctly and that no extra characters are included inadvertently.

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Review

Aspect	Review
Flexibility	General ID Customization offers extensive flexibility in shaping the generated ID’s format.
Ease of Integration	The properties are straightforward to set and adjust, making integration into existing projects simple.
Readability	Options like IncludeDashes and UseUpperCase greatly enhance the readability of IDs in logs and UIs.
Extensibility	The feature supports further extension through code examples and clear documentation for each property.

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Summary

Summary Point	Details
Customizable Format	Developers can tailor the ID format with specific lengths, case preferences, and additional formatting via prefixes/suffixes.
Readability Enhancements	Dash inclusion and interval configuration improve visual clarity.
Timestamp Integration	Optionally embedding a timestamp helps in tracking the creation time of the IDs, aiding in debugging and audit trails.
Integration Ready	Comprehensive property customization and clear documentation enable seamless integration into .NET WinForms applications.

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Code Samples and Examples

Example 1: Basic Integration

using System;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI;

namespace DemoApp
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Initialize the ID generator
            SiticoneIdGen idGen = new SiticoneIdGen();

            // Configure basic customization options
            idGen.Length = 32;
            idGen.UseUpperCase = true;
            idGen.Prefix = "ID-";
            idGen.Suffix = "-2025";
            idGen.IncludeDashes = true;
            idGen.DashInterval = 4;
            idGen.UseTimestamp = true;

            // Generate a unique identifier
            string uniqueId = idGen.GenerateId();
            Console.WriteLine("Generated ID: " + uniqueId);
        }
    }
}

Example 2: Asynchronous ID Generation

using System;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI;

namespace DemoAppAsync
{
    class Program
    {
        static async Task Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Initialize the ID generator
            SiticoneIdGen idGen = new SiticoneIdGen();

            // Customize the generator properties
            idGen.Length = 32;
            idGen.UseUpperCase = true;
            idGen.Prefix = "USR-";
            idGen.Suffix = "-KEY";
            idGen.IncludeDashes = false;
            idGen.UseTimestamp = false;

            // Generate an ID asynchronously
            string uniqueId = await idGen.GenerateIdAsync();
            Console.WriteLine("Generated ID (async): " + uniqueId);
        }
    }
}

Example 3: Integrating with a WinForms Application

using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI;

namespace WinFormsDemo
{
    public partial class MainForm : Form
    {
        private SiticoneIdGen idGen;

        public MainForm()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            // Initialize and configure the ID generator
            idGen = new SiticoneIdGen
            {
                Length = 32,
                UseUpperCase = true,
                Prefix = "APP-",
                Suffix = "-WIN",
                IncludeDashes = true,
                DashInterval = 4,
                UseTimestamp = true
            };

            // Subscribe to the ID generated event
            idGen.IdGenerated += IdGen_IdGenerated;
        }

        private void IdGen_IdGenerated(object sender, SiticoneIdGeneratedEventArgs e)
        {
            // Display the generated ID in a text box or log it
            generatedIdTextBox.Text = e.GeneratedId;
        }

        private void generateButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Generate and display the unique ID
            string id = idGen.GenerateId();
            generatedIdTextBox.Text = id;
        }
    }
}

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Additional Useful Sections

Integration Checklist

Checklist Item	Requirement/Action
Verify Minimum Length	Ensure Length is set to 16 or above.
Set Case Preferences	Decide on UseUpperCase based on your application needs.
Configure Prefix/Suffix	Use relevant strings to add context to generated IDs.
Adjust Dash Settings	Enable IncludeDashes and set DashInterval if dashes are needed.
Enable/Disable Timestamp	Choose UseTimestamp based on whether chronological data is required.

FAQ

Question	Answer
What is the minimum allowed value for Length?	The minimum allowed length is 16 characters (excluding prefix and suffix).
How do I ensure my IDs are readable?	Enable IncludeDashes and configure DashInterval; also consider setting UseUpperCase for consistency.
Can I add custom prefixes or suffixes?	Yes, simply set the Prefix and Suffix properties to the desired string values.

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Final Review

General ID Customization provides a robust and flexible way to generate unique identifiers that can be tailored to meet various application needs. By leveraging properties like Length, UseUpperCase, Prefix, Suffix, IncludeDashes, DashInterval, and UseTimestamp, developers can create IDs that are both unique and contextually relevant. Extensive code examples and clear tables for best practices, common pitfalls, and usage scenarios make integration straightforward and effective.

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Summary

Summary Aspect	Recap
Customization Options	Provides numerous properties to adjust the format, length, and presentation of the generated IDs.
Readability and Traceability	Features like dash inclusion, uppercase conversion, and timestamp usage enhance readability and traceability.
Ease of Integration	Simple property settings and comprehensive documentation ensure quick integration into WinForms applications.
Practical Application	Ideal for distributed systems, logging, user-facing identifiers, and API key generation, among other scenarios.

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This documentation for the General ID Customization feature should serve as a comprehensive guide for developers to integrate and customize the SiticoneIdGen control in their .NET WinForms applications.