---
title: Using Counters
slug: neurons-for-itsm/admin-user-help/enu/latest/using-counters
createdAt: 2026-07-14T19:16:25.273Z
---

- [About Counters](docId\:OlKE_5-AXeqr-HqIJyEae)
- [Viewing Counters](docId\:OlKE_5-AXeqr-HqIJyEae)
- [Resetting a Counter](docId\:OlKE_5-AXeqr-HqIJyEae)
- [Creating a Counter](docId\:OlKE_5-AXeqr-HqIJyEae)
- [Example: Using a Counter Name in an Initialization Rule](docId\:PMLJk-Ota7-Gc3lQaGvtG)

## About Counters

You can manage counters for existing business objects and set up counters for new business objects.

Counters are usually used in association with a business object field, usually in an initialization business rule to set the initial value and then get the next specified incremental value, using the [GetNextCounter](docId\:HYZZRNtMwXfEdHsdiNKOF)() function.

## Viewing Counters

1. From the Configuration Console, click **Build > Business Objects** to open the **Business Objects** workspace.
2. From the right pane, click **View Counters**. The application displays the list of existing business objects with counter values, with the following information:

| Option        | Description                                                                                                           |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Name          | Name of the counter                                                                                                   |
| Initial value | The first integer value for the counter. This could also be a negative number. Counter length is limited to 9 digits. |
| Increment     | The incremental counter value for the next record.                                                                    |
| Current value | The current value for the most recent record.                                                                         |
| Last Modified | The time and date that this counter was modified.                                                                     |
| Modified by   | The login name of the user who last modified the record.                                                              |

3. Click the name of the counter to view the record and modify any values.

## Resetting a Counter

:::hint{type="info"}
When resetting the counter or modifying counters for existing records, try not to create duplicate records. To prevent duplication, you can reset the counter to a value that is currently higher than the number shown in the **Current Value** field.
:::

1. From the Configuration Console, click **Build > Business Objects** to open the **Business Objects** workspace.
2. From the right pane, click **View Counters**.
3. Click a counter from the list. The application displays the counter details page.
4. To set the counter number to 0, click **Reset counter** to start the counter at the new base value, and accept the confirmation message.
5. Click **Save**.

## Creating a Counter

1. From the Configuration Console, click **Build > Business Objects** to open the **Business Objects** workspace.
2. From the right pane, click **View Counters**.
3. Click **Add new\...**. The application displays a blank counter form.
4. Enter information into the fields.

| Field      | Description                                                                                                                                   |
| ---------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Name       | Name of the counter. This is the name that is used in the initialization business rule for the business object to get the next counter value. |
| Base Value | The first or initial integer value for the counter. This could also be a negative number. Counter length is limited to 9 digits.              |
| Increment  | The incremental counter value for the next record.                                                                                            |

5. Click **Save**.