I am developing a database to track purchase orders. It is a bit involved, with different user types, privileges and approval process. This will be placed on my company WAN in a multi user environment.
Having said that, my question is: with a setup as outlined above, will access be able to keep track of the order numbers properly, if two or more people are making a purchase order at the same time?
Should I use an unbound form with a submit button, so that the number will increment only when the record is added to the table?
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated, along with any pitfalls you think I should be on the lookout for.
Thanks,
Rupert

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Reply from Richard Rost:

You should be OK unless two users try to add an order at EXACTLY the same moment. This is one of the reasons why Access (rather annoyingly) adds an Autonumber immediately when you click on a new record and start typing. That number is now GONE from the table. Even if that user takes 10 minutes to finish the order, the number is lost and shouldn't duplicate. You can test this yourself if you open up a shared database on multiple machines. Start typing in a record and you get Autonumber 1. Even if you leave that record still "dirty" and unsaved, if you try creating a record on PC 2, you get Autonumber 2.