How do I get my database back in alphabetical order?

[Guest]

 

[Baz]

If you mean that you have a table, and it isn't displaying in alphabetical
order by one of the columns, then right-click the column heading and choose
"Sort Ascending".

If that isn't what you mean, then you're gonna have to explain what you DO
mean. Not too many telepaths around here, I'm afraid.

 

[Guest]

I am very new to Access, in fact I am reading Access for Dummies as we speak.
I have created a data base with customers, phone number, fax numbers etc..
When I entered them yesterday they were in alphabetical order today I opened
up my data base and the autonumbers are not in order which put my data base
out of alphabetical order. Now this may not make a difference I don't know
but I am a perfectionist that likes to look at my data base in alphabetical
order. Can you help me

 

[Guest]

Baz that was a wonderful answer. I just right clicked and like magic its back
in alphabetical order. Thank you so much. Since I am a new user I am sure I
will be back.
Thanks again
Veronica

 

[Guest]

Now in that same database when I started entering data my autonumber 1-4
disappeared so my customers start with 5. where did 1-4 go and how do I get
them back?
Veronica

 

[Baz]

Baz that was a wonderful answer. I just right clicked and like magic its back
in alphabetical order. Thank you so much. Since I am a new user I am sure I
will be back.
Thanks again
Veronica

Hi again Veronica,

I'm sure you'll soon learn these things from the book you are studying, but
just to help:

What you have just sorted isn't a database, it's a table. A database can
(and usually does) contain more than one tables (often very many of them!)

If you are using autonumbers, there is absolutely no reason why they should
follow the same sequence as some other column in your table. In fact, if
you persist in trying to make this happen, you will soon find that your
database becomes very hard to work with.

There is no set order for the records in a table. If you have a table which
usually or always shows in the order you want, just put it down to good
luck, but DO NOT rely on it! If you want the records shown in a specific
order, then you need to explicitly sort them (which is what you just did).
Very usefully, you can create and save queries which always sort the records
in the order you want, but that's probably best dealt with when you get to
that chapter in the book!

 

[Baz]

Now in that same database when I started entering data my autonumber 1-4
disappeared so my customers start with 5. where did 1-4 go and how do I get
them back?
Veronica

Either you have somehow deleted the records, or you have scrolled down to
the bottom of the table and you simply need to scroll back up to see the
other records.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for clarifying database and table. I did accidentally delete them.
I appreciate you help, now I'm back to my inputting in my table.
thank you

 

[John Vinson]

Now this may not make a difference I don't know
but I am a perfectionist that likes to look at my data base in alphabetical
order.

Just to amplify Baz's good advice:

A Table HAS NO ORDER.

It's an unordered "heap" of data.

Also, if you have alphabetical names and numerical Autonumbers, you
should NOT expect them to be in the same order. Think about it: if you
had 12,407 names in your table and needed to add records for a Mr.
Aarons, Ms. Balan, and Dr. Schmidt, would you want EVERY SINGLE RECORD
in the table to change its autonumber value!? Surely not!

Consider your table as a data repository - and don't do ANYTHING else
with table datasheet view, other than debugging. If you want to see
your data, use a Form; if you want to see your data sorted in
alphabetical order (or phone number order, or zipcode + address order,
or *any other order*) base that Form on a Query, and sort the data in
the Query.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[Guest]

Thank you John. Baz was good help also and I was able to put it in order. I
know that when I come back on Monday it will be out of order again but now
it's okay. thanks to both of you.
Veronica