Auto Numbers

[kburke]

Hi,
We have a database at work that we put the clients information into. It
then creates an auto number that we use as their client ID number. However,
somehow I have messed things up when I deleted a record and the numbers are
now wrong for the rest of the clients that I have entered into the system.
How do I fix this problem and/or turn off the auto numbering system so I can
give the clients a number I choose for them? Thanks.

 

[KARL DEWEY]

the numbers are now wrong for the rest of the clients that I have entered
into the system.
Autonumbers are for the machine to reference and not for human viewing so
how can deleting one record make all other records wrong?
You can append a record with the missing number if you 'Compact and Repair'
first.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

"Autonumber" has a very specific meaning in MS Access. Let's make sure you
are using that definition...

In the table that stores ClientID, what is the datatype of ClientID?

If the table defines that field/column as "Autonumber", Access will
automatically generate a new, nearly always unique, row identifier. This
"number" is not guaranteed to be sequential, and is generally unfit for
human consumption.

When you say "the numbers are now wrong for the rest of the clients ...", do
you mean that they are no longer in sequence (i.e., there's a gap)? If so,
so what?! If the ClientID is only a unique identifier, why does it matter
if they are sequential or not?

I'm getting the idea there could be something you're not saying, like,
maybe, "I use the client numbers to tell me how many clients I have and now
the 'count' is off".

More info, please!

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP

 

[OD]

I am answering this from an audit perspective...you want to be really,
really careful when turning off a system that prenumber's transactions. A
system generated, pre-numbering system is a very important internal control
mechanism that should not be disrupted if possible. If the numbering system
is just (1) number off, it would be better to try and number the one
transaction and then let the system generate the numbers for the other
transactions going forward.