I'm not able to format a variable in access vba

[Welshgasman]

I believe my IW code shows it works as it should?, so upload the DB with just what we need to reproduce the error.
If you need to obfuscate the date use this

[clukem]

You have a combobox for AuthorName. Consider using combobox NotInList event to add new author during book data entry.

Really, name parts should be in separate fields - FirstName, MiddleName, LastName. : I have no wish to delve deeper into the authors other than to find who wrote the book.

How do you handle publications with multiple authors? They will all appear under authors name (see below). Randal L Schwartz has an entry for himself and another when he wrote with Tom Phoenix. Usually I just put et al for more than 2 authors as shown with the 3rd entry.

ID	Name
AU0071	Randal L Schwartz and Tom Phoenix
AU0072	Randall L Schwartz
AU0073	Larry Wall et al

What is exact error message? Runtime 13

Are you missing any library references? Not sure

Why bother saving "AU" into field?

I'm migrating from an old Java/MySQL environment and these were what I used there. I like using the AU to identify an Author ID from any other. A personal preference

[June7]

That is not the exact error message. There must be more info provided with the error popup. However, it is most likely "type mismatch". I don't see any reason for this error with your original code.

There are other alpha prefixes than just "AU" stored in this field?

As others have indicated, best to provide db for analysis.

[clukem]

I've come back to the database this morning and everything seems to be running fine now (see debug.print log below). I did run the compact and repair last night in preparation for sending the database. Maybe that sorted the problem? Not sure why it would only affect the format command. Unless there was something below the surface affecting the data.

The Max Value from the Database : 0703
The Pre-incremented Value is : 0703
The pre-formatted value is : 704
The Formatted Value is : 0704

Thanks for all your help