Resetting an Autonumber Counter

[Jason Sharp]

Having briefly parused, entries (posted 7/29) regarding this subject, I was kind of shocked by the argument that ensued after a good gesture. Truthfully, I found the gesture competively flawed, but was not impressed with the pseudo-eccentric approach initiated by the Access MVP.

I guess I'm a hobbyist! Here are some tips:

DataManagement:
- Make sure you run an export of data you wish to keep, before purging records.
- To adjust seed values: you will want to create a new single-field, single-record table with an autonumber field populated by a number 1 less than your desired first record. Then append this value via append query to your table from which you either purged records, or what-not...
- You can also use Excel or another spreadsheeting program to to manipulate exported data quickly, then re-introduce the data to the table from which it came.

Access '97:
- Simply adding a new autonumber field and deleting the old autonumber field should work just fine. If the new autonumber field is to be the primary key for records: of course, you will have to remove constraints of the old field first. And certainly any related table may be impacted by this change. This doesn't apply to custom seed values. Also, I think this is possible in Access 2000 as well.

 

[Brook]

Thank you very much!

I was just trying to pass some information that helped
me in my testing.

Brook

-----Original Message-----
Having briefly parused, entries (posted 7/29) regarding

this subject, I was kind of shocked by the argument that
ensued after a good gesture. Truthfully, I found the
gesture competively flawed, but was not impressed with the
pseudo-eccentric approach initiated by the Access MVP.

I guess I'm a hobbyist! Here are some tips:

DataManagement:
- Make sure you run an export of data you wish to keep, before purging records.
- To adjust seed values: you will want to create a new

single-field, single-record table with an autonumber field
populated by a number 1 less than your desired first
record. Then append this value via append query to your
table from which you either purged records, or what-not...

- You can also use Excel or another spreadsheeting

program to to manipulate exported data quickly, then re-
introduce the data to the table from which it came.

Access '97:
- Simply adding a new autonumber field and deleting the

old autonumber field should work just fine. If the new
autonumber field is to be the primary key for records: of
course, you will have to remove constraints of the old
field first. And certainly any related table may be
impacted by this change. This doesn't apply to custom seed
values. Also, I think this is possible in Access 2000 as
well.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

Jason

If you are referring to the discussion that developed in Brook's thread,
take a second look. Or maybe you have a different definition of "argument".
I didn't see anyone telling Brook that the information provided was
incorrect or flawed, just that it had ramifications.

I'd be interested in what aspects of the discussion you found "competively
flawed", as I am still a learner and always try to see more than one
viewpoint.

And if my observation and caution is what you meant with "the
pseudo-eccentric approach initiated by the Access MVP", thank you! I'll be
able to use that phrase in describing what I can offer in the way of systems
assessment and assistance!

As a relative of mine is wont to declaim ... "Think outside the box!"

Jeff Boyce
<Access MVP>

Having briefly parused, entries (posted 7/29) regarding this subject, I

was kind of shocked by the argument that ensued after a good gesture.
Truthfully, I found the gesture competively flawed, but was not impressed
with the pseudo-eccentric approach initiated by the Access MVP.

I guess I'm a hobbyist! Here are some tips:

DataManagement:
- Make sure you run an export of data you wish to keep, before purging records.
- To adjust seed values: you will want to create a new single-field,

single-record table with an autonumber field populated by a number 1 less
than your desired first record. Then append this value via append query to
your table from which you either purged records, or what-not...

- You can also use Excel or another spreadsheeting program to to

manipulate exported data quickly, then re-introduce the data to the table
from which it came.

Access '97:
- Simply adding a new autonumber field and deleting the old autonumber

field should work just fine. If the new autonumber field is to be the
primary key for records: of course, you will have to remove constraints of
the old field first. And certainly any related table may be impacted by this
change. This doesn't apply to custom seed values. Also, I think this is
possible in Access 2000 as well.