jacob wallace
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how to Recycle unused Numbes in Device tracking Data base (inventory)
ok im so im not an access guru. but i have made and inventory tracking system specifically for desktops and printers using auto numbering and a naming convention of WLHWS"000" so i have everything i need my data base to do but one thing. i hope you can help. i have set up a macro ( i think its called ) that when the device status changes to Decommissioned, to delete record.. but we want that name in the auto numbering sequence to select the next available name/number. example Device names 001-010 is active. i decommission 005. new device comes in and i enter it in the data base., but.. next avaliable name is 011 when i need it to be 005. i hope it make sense. anything would help thanks.
Dave Baldwin
Standard procedure for autonumber / autoincrement functions in database is to never reuse numbers. The next number is always one more than the current highest number. Another standard practice is to never use an autonumber for a 'serial number'. The purpose of autonumbers is to uniquely identify a row, nothing more.
ASKER
any recommendation on how to make a system like this function?
Use a different column for your count or don't use autonumber. You can't change the behavior of the autonumber function.
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This really has nothing to do with Access. It has to do with proper database design. Do you ever print reports? do you ever export data? If you decommission an item, do you recall all printed documents that refer to the decommissioned item? Do you recall all exported files? Do you ever do any historical reporting?
It makes no sense in the real world to reuse numbers like this and doing so will only lead to confusion in the future.
It makes no sense in the real world to reuse numbers like this and doing so will only lead to confusion in the future.
ASKER
thanks guys for you input. this is just a simple data base we are using to track multiple devices and their naming scheme. no reports not printing. just a tracker. thank you for your time.
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