Restart Autonumbering

[Kass]

I have been experimenting with a new database I designed to better meet my
invoicing needs. I have the database pretty well set up, but now I want to
start it back to an earlier number to match the invoice numbers of my current
system. Is there a way to go backwards on autonumbering and get it to
"forget" or start over? I wouldn't even mind just clearing it out, cuz I
could then use an append query to catch it up to the present numbering. I
tried an append query while removing the No Duplicates on the primary key,
and it worked to move the numbering ahead, but I can't seem to move it
backwards or start over. I don't want to rebuild the database if possible.
Thanks for your help!

Kass

 

[Allen Browne]

After deleting the test records, compact the database.

If that does not reset the seed of the autonumber, you need to apply a
service pack for Office and/or JET 4:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/sp

 

[John Vinson]

Is there a way to go backwards on autonumbering and get it to
"forget" or start over?

Not readily. DON'T use Autonumbers for this purpose AT ALL though!

They will *always* have gaps. Even if you just hit <Esc> one keystroke
after starting a new record, an autonumber gets used up. If you
Replicate your database, autonumbers will become random - the next two
invoices might be 314024715 and -1983451339.

If you want human-readable (and editable and correctible) numbers,
just use a Long Integer field and use VBA code in the Form's events to
populate it. This is a frequently asked question - try Google Groups
to find the multiple references to it.

John W. Vinson[MVP]