Re-number a Field Automatically

[Bob Elliott]

I have an application which has a three char.field that is used as a reference number (example: 001,002,003 or 160)at different times and item is deleted or added to the dbf list! My question is there away to automatical re-number this field if a item is deleted or added to a customer equipment list? Lets say we delete 002 or add 161 can it be re-cal. automatically?

[Jeff Moses]

RE: Re-number a Field Automatically

Bob, Can you be more specific about what you need to do. If you delete 002 and then add another item other than the one deleted, do you want to reuse 002 for that new item? Or are you trying to record the original value of the deleted item so it will be re-assinged back to it if the item is ever entered again? You can do either but with different methods.
Jeff

[JohnZaleski]

RE: Re-number a Field Automatically

Or if you delete number 100 do you want all higher numbers than 100 to come down one in order to always maintain consecutive numbers with no gaps?? 101 to 100 102 to 101 etc.

[Bob Elliott]

RE: Re-number a Field Automatically

Consective numbering when 002 is deleted 003 will become 002! The way I have it now is you enter 001,002,003,004 etc! If One is deleted then you have to go back and manualy re-number all items or move the last number to the deleted number slot!

[Bill Warner]

RE: Re-number a Field Automatically

You could run an update operation using the PREVIOUS function. For example, the expression for the NUM field:

NUM=PREVIOUS("NUM")+1

You'll have to modify this if the field is character:

NUM=STR(VAL(PREVIOUS("NUM")+1))

Make sure you sort by record number order if you want them numbered according to how they were entered.