New ID numbers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tony
  • Start date Start date
T

Tony

I am working with a listing of approximately 300 names
and associated information. If when updating the listing
if a number of names have to be removed because of people
dying, Is there any way to automatically renumber the
entire list and move fill in the blanks. Also if names
get added to the end of the list can the list be put back
in alphabetical order and have the ID numbers be re-
assigned
 
Tony,

What you are asking is generally considered 'poor practice'
in database design. The 'good practice' design would say
that you would always want to keep everyone you have ever
had listed still listed, but to flag them as 'inactive' or
'deceased' and to filter those folks out of your 'active'
lists. This is the norm that allows historical reporting
accuracy.

There are many ways to do this, but a simple one in your
case would be to create a 'deceased' field Yes/No ( and
year? ) and to filter your upper level objects on that.

In proper database design, an ID number that is assigned to
a particular number should never ever be reassigned. An ID
number for a record is unique to that record and has nothing
to do with the number of records that you have.

As far as the alphabetical sorting, that is easy by basing
your form, report or whatever on a query that has a specifed
sort order or setting the SortOrder of your report or query
to what you want.

In light of my observations, if you still want to do what
you asked, follow up saying so because it can be done.

--

Gary Miller
Gary Miller Computer Services
Sisters, OR
________________________
 
-----Original Message-----
Tony,

What you are asking is generally considered 'poor practice'
in database design. The 'good practice' design would say
that you would always want to keep everyone you have ever
had listed still listed, but to flag them as 'inactive' or
'deceased' and to filter those folks out of your 'active'
lists. This is the norm that allows historical reporting
accuracy.

There are many ways to do this, but a simple one in your
case would be to create a 'deceased' field Yes/No ( and
year? ) and to filter your upper level objects on that.

In proper database design, an ID number that is assigned to
a particular number should never ever be reassigned. An ID
number for a record is unique to that record and has nothing
to do with the number of records that you have.

As far as the alphabetical sorting, that is easy by basing
your form, report or whatever on a query that has a specifed
sort order or setting the SortOrder of your report or query
to what you want.

In light of my observations, if you still want to do what
you asked, follow up saying so because it can be done.

--

Gary Miller
Gary Miller Computer Services
Sisters, OR
________________________



.
Gary, Thanks for your reply. I understand what you said
Click to expand...
and thanks. The list I am working with is a class reunion
list which continually gets smaller and there is no need
to continually track deceased members. So if possible I
would like to re ID. Can you explain how. Thanks
 
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