ElementEntry HDL error due to MultipleEntryCount

Summary:

We created an element entry hdl and it loaded successfully with a 4/1/2026 date.

We tested a second load on 5/22/2026 or the same employees and received this error.

A valid METADATA line for the ElementEntry business object must appear in the file before any MERGE data lines for the ElementEntry business object.

We updated the MultipleEntryCount value from 1 to 2 and it loaded successfully.

I understand I cannot create an element report to retrieve MultipleEntryCount because the value is not stored in any table.

Can I create a unique number for MultipleEntryCount instead like 05222026 or does the value need to be the next sequential value?