Resetting and changing index numbers

I

Ianpb

How do I reset and change index numbers in Datasheet view? I'm using Access 2002. When I attempt to change the index number, I'm refused. The message at the bottom says: "Control can't be edited; it's bound to Autonumber field "ID". " As usual, Access Help files are of no help.
 
D

Douglas J. Steele

You can't change autonumber values.

If you need the ability to change your ID, you're going to have to change it
from an autonumber to a long integer, and generate your own ID numbers.

--
Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP

(No private e-mails, please)


Ianpb said:
How do I reset and change index numbers in Datasheet view? I'm using
Access 2002. When I attempt to change the index number, I'm refused. The
message at the bottom says: "Control can't be edited; it's bound to
Autonumber field "ID". " As usual, Access Help files are of no help.
 
J

John Vinson

How do I reset and change index numbers in Datasheet view? I'm using Access 2002. When I attempt to change the index number, I'm refused. The message at the bottom says: "Control can't be edited; it's bound to Autonumber field "ID". " As usual, Access Help files are of no help.

An autonumber *IS NOT AN INDEX NUMBER*. It's got one function, and one
function only: to provide an almost-guaranteed unique key. Autonumbers
are not guaranteed to be sequential, they will always have gaps, they
can become random, and they cannot be edited. Most developers use them
"behind the scenes" to link tables to one another, but avoid making
them visible to users, for just these reasons.

What are you actually trying to accomplish? Would a Long Integer
field, manually maintained, do what you want?
 

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