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Possible TechHelp Video

Sandra Truax

2 years ago

In my database that I tweaked from the Genealogy Seminar, I made a huge mistake and switched the AutoNumber to Random numbers, and to say that I have come to hate that decision is putting it mild. I would really, really like to convert that back to just the normal AutoNumber type, but I would not only need to replace all the random generated numbers throughout the tables, but also for the documents stored on my computer as well, which start with the random number folliwed by _picture.jpg, or _01.jpg or 01.pdf or 02.pdf, etc. Is this task as impossible as I think it is? I have nearly 2,000 names in my PersonT table.

Kevin Yip @Reply

2 years ago

Richard has already made a video on this topic, and it's called AutoNumbers Are NOT For You. Autonumbers cannot be used in any part of your data, which is what you did. I suggest you keep the autonumber primary key fields as is, and create your own numbering system for your document names, then rename all the documents in your computer and in your table. Creating your own numbering scheme is what you should have done in the first place, so doing this won't be a total waste of time.

	Sami Shamma @Reply 2 years ago
Sandra. Another way to go about this: Change the Random Key to a numeric Create a new Auto number (sequential) Using update query,Update your table.

	Matt Hall @Reply 2 years ago
Sandra, I am working on a database with uniquely named equipment. I have used equipment names and dates in the attachment file names. This way, if I am ever working with the attachment files directly, the filenames have meaning.

	Sandra Truax OP @Reply 2 years ago
Thank you everyone for your posts. I normally don't use AutoNumbers for me, but it seemed the most efficient way to make sure the documents were kept with the right person. It works, but this is going to be a project for another day. LOL

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