sequential numbering

[Michelle]

I am relatively new to Access 2007 but in previous versions of Access, when
you had a number field, it would sequentially number the next field when you
pressed the down arrow key. That feature does not work in my database. Has it
been removed, does it need activated, or how do I get that feature. I used it
a lot and really miss it.

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

It's called an autonumber and you add it to your table in design view.

 

[John W. Vinson]

I am relatively new to Access 2007 but in previous versions of Access, when
you had a number field, it would sequentially number the next field when you
pressed the down arrow key. That feature does not work in my database. Has it
been removed, does it need activated, or how do I get that feature. I used it
a lot and really miss it.

This feature was indeed removed. You're in a very distinct minority in liking
it! Your need for it suggests that you may be using Access as if it were a
spreadsheet, which it is not. Could you describe the nature of the data you're
entering and why you like the autoincrement?

 

[John Spencer]

I believe that feature was removed from Access 2007. Many people found
it more irritating than helpful


'====================================================
John Spencer
Access MVP 2002-2005, 2007-2008
The Hilltop Institute
University of Maryland Baltimore County
'====================================================

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

It appears that I mistakenly thought that you were interested in
autonumbers, when in fact you seem to be interested in the "autofill"
feature. Yes, that was removed from Access 2007 because of the numerous
complaints. You may indeed be the only one using it. If you really like that
feature, it can be simulated in code in a form, but not directly in a table.

One should not work directly in tables anyway because you have no way of
controlling mistakes. Within a form, you can use code to do validation and
otherwise control your application. Forms can easily be built using
datasheet view if you like the convenience of looking at lots of records at
once.

 

[Michelle]

This is a table for invoice tracking for multiple different purposes from
commissions to what states we are doing business in, etc. etc. I liked this
feature because there are times that I need to manipulate invoice numbers to
show partial billings as well as for commission purposes.

If I understand Autonumber correctly I can't change the invoice number
after it has been assigned by Access. These invoices are not always
generated in a sequential order so it is important for us that we enter every
invoice number into Access so that we have a double check system to make sure
that all of our jobs are being billed since these billings are coming from
different areas of the country not just from one location.

When I enter these numbers into Access I am sometimes entering 10 - 200 at a
time, this is why this feature was so important for our purposes.

 

[John W. Vinson]

This is a table for invoice tracking for multiple different purposes from
commissions to what states we are doing business in, etc. etc. I liked this
feature because there are times that I need to manipulate invoice numbers to
show partial billings as well as for commission purposes.

If I understand Autonumber correctly I can't change the invoice number
after it has been assigned by Access. These invoices are not always
generated in a sequential order so it is important for us that we enter every
invoice number into Access so that we have a double check system to make sure
that all of our jobs are being billed since these billings are coming from
different areas of the country not just from one location.

When I enter these numbers into Access I am sometimes entering 10 - 200 at a
time, this is why this feature was so important for our purposes.

Autonumbers are indeed not suitable: they will have gaps (even hitting <ESC>
after the first keystroke of a new record permanently uses up that autonumber
value) and cannot be edited.

Instead, use a Form to enter the data (not a table datasheet). You can put
code in the form's BeforeInsert event to automatically assign a new
incremented invoice number:

Private Sub Form_BeforeInsert(Cancel as Integer)
Me!InvoiceNo = NZ(DMax("InvoiceNo", "[tablename]")) + 1
End Sub