CSV numbering tool for printing items

Use this tool to generate a CSV file for numbering items such as raffle tickets, invoices, or lots on generic print, without using spreadsheets. Fill in the fields below and click "Download CSV". For instructions and examples see below. The source code is hosted on GitHub. Before using this tool, read the LEGAL NOTES/DISCLAIMER.

Start Number:

Items Quantity:

Items Per Sheet (numerators):

Items Per Block (set 1 if no blocks of items are needed):

Make Placeholder (e.g., N1, N2, ...) Add Leading Zeros (e.g., 0001, 0002)

Step 1: Create a Basic Item Layout

Start by designing your ticket/item layout using Word, Writer, or a more professional tool like Adobe InDesign. Make sure to include all the necessary information.

Step 2: Prepare a Printable Template

Duplicate the ticket/item layout across the printing sheet, if needed. Now you have a template ready, just add the numbers.

Step 3: Generate Numbers

Use this online tool to generate sequential ticket/item numbers. Insert the required details and download the resulting CSV file.

Step 4: Import the CSV and Populate the Template

Import the CSV file into your design software and use placeholders to insert the numbers into the appropriate positions. For raffle tickets, for example, you’ll likely need the numbers on both the counterfoil and the main ticket.

Step 5: Merge and Create a Printable Document

Run the Data Merge (or equivalent process: Mail Merge, Variable Print, ecc...) to generate a single big printable document. The final document will include all tickets/items, each with a unique number.

For more information on how the numbering is generated, refer to the example below.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• To check the numbering, open the CSV file with spreadsheet software like Calc or Excel, ensure you set the comma as columns separator or open it with a simple text editor.
• The items quantity and sheets to print are adjusted based on the items per sheet (numerators) and sheets per block data. The tool will inform you accordingly.
• It has been tested with Adobe InDesign, Writer, and Word.

Example: I was required to number the raffle tickets for a town festival, ranging from 1 to 1300. On each A3 printing sheet fit 6 raffle tickets (corresponding to 6 numerators). For ease of sale/distribution, the customer demands to group the tickets into blocks of 25. Here's the data I will enter:

- Starting Number: 1
- Total Quantity: 1300
- Items Per Sheet: 6
- Items Per Block: 25

Click 'Download CSV'.

The tool tells me that the correct quantity to fit 6 raffle tickets on sheet inorder to make blocks of 25 grouped tickets, is 1350. 50 extra tickets to make them fit. The total print sheets are 225.

I download the file and import it into Adobe InDesign. I place the six numerators fields on the six raffle tickets on the A3 sheet, using the numerators placeholders (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6). I place the same placeholder twice on the same ticket, as the client requires numbers on both the counterfoil and the main ticket. Finally, I generate all the records, which correspond to the 225 printing sheets.

The numbering is consecutive across sheets, arranged in columns, so the print shop only needs to print and cut the raffle tickets, without manually arranging them into numerical order once they have been cut out. This also makes it easier to create blocks, if necessary.
The table below shows how the numbering is done in order to have them all arranged automatically, once they are all cut out.

SHEETS	TICKETS
SHEET 1	TICKET 1, TICKET 226, TICKET 451, TICKET 676, TICKET 901, TICKET 1126
SHEET 2	TICKET 2, TICKET 227, TICKET 452, TICKET 677, TICKET 902, TICKET 1127
SHEET 3	TICKET 3, TICKET 228, TICKET 453, TICKET 678, TICKET 903, TICKET 1128
...	...
SHEET 225	TICKET 225, TICKET 450, TICKET 675, TICKET 900, TICKET 1125, TICKET 1350