Change Auto Number

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bzbjg - 30 Dec 2005 21:31 GMT

My database uses an auto number for each project that is assigned (50000,
50001, 50002, ...). I want to change (jump) the auto number to 60000. How do
I accomplish this?

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Jeff Boyce - 30 Dec 2005 22:35 GMT

Maybe just a semantic difference ... an Access-generated Autonumber is a
data type controlled entirely by Access. They're designed to serve as
(internal) unique row identifiers, and are generally unfit for human
consumption.

If you are using an Access Autonumber field to sequentially number records,
be aware that they are NOT guaranteed to be sequential.

Your post mentioned "assigned" ... how is this done in your database? That
may determine how you then can "jump" to 60000.

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Regards

Jeff Boyce
<Office/Access MVP>

> My database uses an auto number for each project that is assigned (50000,
> 50001, 50002, ...). I want to change (jump) the auto number to 60000. How do
> I accomplish this?

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bzbjg - 03 Jan 2006 16:35 GMT

Each project is given a unique identifier (this is the autonumber).

Example:
The department receives 3 projects - Write communication, Go to meeting, and
Research question.

When we enter these projects in our database, they each get assigned a
project number, which is the autonumber.

So, Write Communication might receive autonumber 50500, Go to meeting might
receive autonumber 50501, and Research question might receive autonumber
50502.

I would like to begin (or "jump") the sequence numbers to 60000. By doing
this, my new projects would now begin with 60000, 60001, 60002...

I have done this in the past, but don't remember exactly what I did. I
believe I had to run a marco.

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The world would be a dark place without light.

> Maybe just a semantic difference ... an Access-generated Autonumber is a
> data type controlled entirely by Access. They're designed to serve as
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> do
> > I accomplish this?

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Jeff Boyce - 04 Jan 2006 02:34 GMT

Sorry, but I'm still not clear on how a project number is both "assigned"
and (given the Access definition), an Autonumber.

And your reply seems to imply that you are relying on the sequential nature
of the project numbers ... remember, Access Autonumbers are not guaranteed
to be sequential.

If you are truly using Access Autonumbers as project numbers, you may run
into the situation where they are no longer sequential -- what will you/your
users do then?

Are you concerned about the sequential aspect because you are using this to
count the number of projects? If so, don't! Use a query to count the
number of rows within a given date range.

If you ARE using Access Autonumbers, and even after all this warning, still
want to start at 60000, create an append query and append a value of 59999
to the Autonumber field. Then open the table and delete it. The next
Autonumber could be 60000 (but they ARE NOT guaranteed to be sequential!).

Signature

Regards

Jeff Boyce
<Office/Access MVP>

By the way, did I mention that Access Autonumbers are not guaranteed to be
sequential? <g>

> Each project is given a unique identifier (this is the autonumber).
>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> > do
> > > I accomplish this?

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