Ok, from the posts I have read I understand that I want to avoid using the
autonumber field for anything meaningful in access. So, after reviewing the
posts I have seen two distinct ways to accomplish a meaningful incremental
counter:

1) Create a field that represents a meningful number. On new records, do a
dmax() function, add 1 to it, and use that value as the value for the
incremental field.

2) Create the incremental field and also a seperate table that stores just
one value, which represents the last number used. On new records, look up
this new number, add one, then update the lookup table and use this new
value as the value for your incremental field.

So, here are my questions regarding this two methods:

1) Which method is better in a multi-user environment? I might have 4 or 5
people entering records at once and I don't want thier to be any issues with
record locking or getting the same number.

2) If I am using this incremental field, is there still a need for an
autonumber field? What are the advantages/disadvantages to keeping the
autonumber field in addition to the new incremental field?

Thanks

Joe