record numbers

  • Thread starter Thread starter eb1mom
  • Start date Start date
E

eb1mom

I am using autonumber to assign record numbers. This works
great, except for one user who insists on deleting records
from his personal database. And then expects the autonumber
to match record number shown for record navigation. I have
reset autonumber for him several times. I took autonumber
field off his records then complaints that records had NO
NUMBERS. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Access Autonumbers are designed as unique row identifiers, to allow relating
of tables. They are not intended for human consumption.

The "record number" that shows at the bottom of a table or form is NOT a
record number, but a count. It relies on the sort-order of the underlying
data. If you (or your bothersome user) doubt this, create a query sorted
one way, and go to the third record, then revise the query to sort another
way, and look at the third record.

Something similar can happen if your underlying table is indexed in a new
way, or sorted, or ...

My suggestion would be to not use Autonumbers as sequential record
identifiers, as they will not be! All it takes is deleting one row, or
starting a new row then cancelling, to end up out of sequence. Note also
that the same problem will still exist if there is a custom record number
added, but the user deletes that row!

Is there an underlying business reason why the user is deleting rows?

Ah, users, can't live with them, ...
 
Hide the AutoNumber field from users. Explain that AutoNumber is NOT for
counting records. If he doesn't like it, tough.
---Phil Szlyk
 
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