Why is a unique Membership ID is important?

In the basic configuration documentation, it says this about Membership ID:

" membershipprodoc.joomservices.com/getting-started/configuration
Generate Membership ID: If you want Membership Pro to generate an unique, auto-increment Membership ID for each subscriber, set this config option to Yes. If you do so, remember to remove and change the following config options to meet your need: Membership ID prefix, Reset membership id every year, Membership ID start number."

But it doesn't explain WHY I might want a unique Membership ID. Can you explain here why I might want this?

Thanks

Hi Peter

It is basically, just depends on customer requirement. Some customers (who uses Membership Pro) requires to generate Membership ID for each of their member, so that they can use it for internal management purpose..

In your case, look like you don't need it, so just ignore that option. Not all customers need it, so it is just use it if you need it, otherwise, just turn that option of

Tuan

Peter
We use Membership Pro to run a family history society.

We have lots of members who pay by standing order. We need the membership id as a reference on the standing order payments in order to ensure we take the payment against the correct subscription record.

Hope this gives a real life usage of this essential capability.

Alan

But if they renew a membership does it keep the same membership ID? We do not want to have the prefix or it to generate a new ID every time.

Yes it is kept. It only gets created if the field is empty. On an import you can include existing membership numbers. I had to do this from our old site.