Auto number skipped 1000s of #s any ideas why or how to fix

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Guest

I have a database one table had over 4000 records and all of a sudden my next
numer is 3,886,6502. Is there anything I can do to get it back on track?
 
Why? The value of the Autonumber field should be irrelevant: it's not
actually usual for the user to even know what the value is. No significance
should ever be given to the value of an Autonumber field. Autonumbers exist
for one purpose only: to provide a (practically guaranteed) unique value
that can be used as a primary key. Gaps in the numbering doesn't impact that
purpose.
 
DMarieD said:
I have a database one table had over 4000 records and all of a sudden my next
numer is 3,886,6502. Is there anything I can do to get it back on track?
Click to expand...


Well, you shouldn't care what they are as long as they are
unique.

To get back to where you were before the skip, delete the
offending records and Compact the database. Just be aware
that for many reasons autonumbers are not required to be
sequential.
 
Hi Doug - Yes I understand that - I use the auto generated number as my "case
number". It's not that big of a deal but writing to a client - your case
number is 38866502 vs. 4030 is just a little strange since most of my clients
are repeat customers they are not used to seeing such case numbers. That was
why I was looking to get it back on track. Is there any way to do this or
amy I stuck with my new numbering system? - Thanks.
 
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