# Shorter row IDs?

**URL:** <https://community.glideapps.com/t/shorter-row-ids/29174>\
**Category:** Ask for Help\
**Created:** [July 16, 2021, 7:50am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/shorter-row-ids/29174 "2021-07-16T07:50:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rollo\_Wenlock](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/rollo_wenlock/32/26956_2.png) [@Rollo\_Wenlock](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Rollo_Wenlock)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 7:50am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/shorter-row-ids/29174/1 "2021-07-16T07:50:06Z")

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I’m currently creating barcodes from the RowID, but the ID is so long the barcode becomes difficult to scan. I’m looking for a way to create unique codes that are no more than eight characters.

These codes will be used for user barcodes.

Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Jeff\_Hager](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/jeff_hager/32/43_2.png) [@Jeff\_Hager](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Jeff_Hager)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 8:25am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/shorter-row-ids/29174/2 "2021-07-16T08:25:01Z")

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> [@Row ID alternative](https://community.glideapps.com/t/row-id-alternative/28445/8):
>
> I would think that RANDBETWEEN could always have the potential to return duplicates and would constantly change, unless you are somehow building in logic to save that random value…and even then, it would have to somehow allow multiple users to get a unique random number at the same time I think the safest bet for a short and unique random number would be some kind of mathematical logic that uses the date and time in combination with a number generated from part of a user’s name and a global num…

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**Author:** ![Marc-Olivier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Marc-Olivier](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Marc-Olivier)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 8:39am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/shorter-row-ids/29174/3 "2021-07-16T08:39:23Z")

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I personally use the first letters (function left()) in Google sheet and check if there is a match on sheet or sometime textjoin with significant data in the row.  
The solution by @Jeff_Hager is great too.  
Marco