Database Replication Problem, Help me please!!!

[Guest]

I transformed my database into a replica master and created a replica. I
have had problems with it, noteably my autonumber fields that were once
incremental 1,2,3,4... have all been switched to random. WHY???!!! This is
a huge issue for since my queries and reports are dependant on these
autonumber to determine the data entry sequence!

Please help... When I try to switch the data type back to incremental it
returns an error statement saying that you can't change a random to
incremental?! Even when I try this in a new blank table.

Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!

Daniel

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Sorry: there's nothing you can do about it. By design, Autonumbers in
replicated databases must be random. In that way, you can merge records
added at different sites, something you wouldn't be able to do nearly as
easily if all of the sites had sequential Autonumbers.

But it shouldn't matter. Autonumbers exist for one purpose only: to provide
a (practically guaranteed) unique value that can be used as a primary key.
That need is still served by random numbers. Seldom, if ever, should your
users even be aware of the values of Autonumber fields. In fact, if you're
trying to assign some sort of meaning to their values, you probably
shouldn't be using Autonumbers. If you want to know the data entry sequence,
add a CreatedDTM field (with a default of Now) to your table.

 

[Daniel]

Douglas,

Your explanation makes perfect sence (sadly for me)! Much too complex
to explain but in this specific case a CreatedDTM field wouldn't have worked
(but defenitely going to be used in the near future)... Thanks for the tip!

As far as my problem.... no fix, eh?! From what I've read their is no
simple way of de-replicating a database (do you know of one?)?!

Thanks for the quick response!

Daniel

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

You don't mention what version of Access.

Check http://support.microsoft.com/?id=290052 for Access 2002,
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=208394 for Access 2000 or
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=153526 for Access 95 or 97.