Find like serial numbers, determine next in line, populate field

[swavemeisterg]

Hey guys,

I'm kinda stuck on this. I'm pretty new to access but am ready to take on pretty much any level of difficulty.



Here's the issue:
I am creating a database to allow users to input test specimens by number and various factors. Our numbering system looks like this ##-###-####, where the first number designates the form of specimen (ball, disk, roller), the second number designates the material (steel, aluminum, etc.), and the last number is a simple serial number.

I have set up the form so that when the user selects the kind of specimen and the material, they can click a button to populate the "Specimen Number" field with the first two numbers. This works well. But what I would love to be able to do is have that button also search the table, find the latest entered specimen (third number highest), increment the serial number, and populate the field.

Does that make any sense? Feel free to ask questions or correct me if my language is inadequate. Like I said, I'm pretty new.

Thanks for the help!

[orange]

I don't like putting too much intelligence into "concatenated codes", but some do. I like one fact 1 field. You can concatenate field and display on forms if that is helpful, but I'd still have these as discrete fields in tables. The idea is that at some point, someone or some thing will want to adjust the scheme for some new attribute or other factor.
Easy enough to add the field in a table, but a real pain to now adjust the "intelligent code" reconcile all history and carry on. May not be an issue for you --but I've seen it many times.

Having said that - here's an example of a code with lots of built in intelligence.
Good luck with your project.

[June7]

Generating custom unique identifier is common topic. Search forum. Here is one https://www.accessforums.net/forms/n...lly-41161.html