I have used text values in key fields for years without any issues. Seeing the value rather than a number is very helpful at times. Can you be more specific why it is bad database practice. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

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Reply from Richard Rost:

If you have a current text ID field and it's working for you, that's fine. No NEED to change it. It's just considered good database practice to use Autonumbers for IDs because the system generates them and you don't have to worry about what they are. The primary/foreign key fields are literally ONLY for forming relationships. If you want to add a second "code" or "number" field that you manage yourself, that's perfectly fine. If you want to add text codes for shorthand so you can quickly enter in products, that's OK too.