<div>
use IDENTITY<br />
<br />
<a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa933196(v=sql.80).aspx" rel="ugc nofollow">http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa933196(v=sql.80).aspx</a>
</div>


use IDENTITY

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa933196(v=sql.80).aspx [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa933196(v=sql.80).aspx]

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Since you want equivalent to AutoNumber, going for sequence will be good option<br />
<br />
Here is an excellent article on implementing sequence in SQL Server<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlcat/archive/2006/04/10/sql-server-sequence-number.aspx" rel="ugc">http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlcat/archive/2006/04/10/sql-server-sequence-number.aspx</a><br />
<br />
Using sequence you can achieve literally the same feature as AutoNumber in Access. With little effort sequence can be customized to have prefix/suffix in alphabets <br />
<br />
If you just want unique ID, NEWID() function is the easiest option available. This will not have readability and order.
</div>


Since you want equivalent to AutoNumber, going for sequence will be good option

Here is an excellent article on implementing sequence in SQL Server

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlcat/archive/2006/04/10/sql-server-sequence-number.aspx [http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlcat/archive/2006/04/10/sql-server-sequence-number.aspx]

Using sequence you can achieve literally the same feature as AutoNumber in Access. With little effort sequence can be customized to have prefix/suffix in alphabets

If you just want unique ID, NEWID() function is the easiest option available. This will not have readability and order.

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For order issues with the NEWID function, i would suggest using NEWSEQUENTIALID function instead. This can cause massive problems with you clustered indexes if they are based upon this otherwise.
</div>


For order issues with the NEWID function, i would suggest using NEWSEQUENTIALID function instead. This can cause massive problems with you clustered indexes if they are based upon this otherwise.

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<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
Hi<br />
<br />
I am new to SQL. I have been developing in Access for quite a while.<br />
What data type is best to use for an ID column that is the equivalent to AutoNumber<br />
in Access?
</div>
</div>


Hi

I am new to SQL. I have been developing in Access for quite a while.
What data type is best to use for an ID column that is the equivalent to AutoNumber
in Access?

SQL Server 2008

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning. Major improvements include the  Always On technologies and support for unstructured data types.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Microsoft Access is a rapid application development (RAD) relational database tool. Access can be used for both desktop and web-based applications, and uses VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) as its coding language.