Conceptually, your solution works like a charm; but I have discovered that
even using all the composite key fields I still don't get a clean ranking
without "ties". I'm exploring some other way of doing this. I know I can
append the results of my query into an empty table with an autonumber field.
That gives me the required sequential record numbering for each record; but
then I have the problem of re-setting the autonumber back to one. That
involves using the Compact utility; but I found that I cannot invoke it from
a macro. So now, I need code that will re-set the autonumber from a function.
I found one referenced by Microsoft, but I can't get it to work. I followed
their instructions exactly, but I get an "external name not defined" compile
error, and when I try to invoke the function form a macro I also get that
Access can't find the name of the table. I've tried preceding it with Tables!
but I still get the error.

Here's the Microsoft autonumber re-set method:

"You can use the following function in a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) to
programmatically reset the seed value of your AutoNumber field. You can add
the function to a module, and then run it in the Debug window. Or, you can
call the function from a command button or from a macro.

Note For this code to run correctly, you must reference both the Microsoft
ActiveX Data Objects 2.x and the Microsoft ADO Ext 2.x for DDL and Security
Libraries (where 2.x is 2.1 or later.) To do so, click References on the
Tools menu in the Visual Basic Editor. Make sure that the Microsoft ActiveX
Data Objects 2.x and the Microsoft ADO Ext 2.x for DDL and Security Libraries
check boxes are selected."

***code***

Function ChangeSeed(strTbl As String, strCol As String, lngSeed As Long) As
Boolean
'You must pass the following variables to this function.
'strTbl = Table containing autonumber field
'strCol = Name of the autonumber field
'lngSeed = Long integer value you want to use for next AutoNumber.

Dim cnn As ADODB.Connection
Dim cat As New ADOX.Catalog
Dim col As ADOX.Column

'Set connection and catalog to current database.
Set cnn = CurrentProject.Connection
cat.ActiveConnection = cnn

Set col = cat.Tables(strTbl).Columns(strCol)

col.Properties("Seed") = lngSeed
cat.Tables(strTbl).Columns.Refresh
If col.Properties("seed") = lngSeed Then
   ChangeSeed = True
Else
   ChangeSeed = False
End If
Set col = Nothing
Set cat = Nothing
Set cnn = Nothing

End Function

***end code***

Any ideas?