Problems with Auto-increment

[Graham Wickens]

Along with my radio button problems, A5V8 seems to "forget" about auto increment set on a field, this is causing me problems as I use auto-increments a lot to generate unique field values to link fields across tables. I should be able to leave the auto-increment field hidden on any browse/Form but I cannot as A5V8 either leaves the field blank or if record is duplicated it puts the increment value of the field being copied, saving the duplicated record should write the next incremental value to the field in question but it does not. When I go to field rules for the relevant table (provided I still have radio/check boxes displayed (see earlier problem)) auto-increment is still set!!! To get auto-increment restarted I have to flag "User Entered" then save the field rule, then change back to "Auto Increment" and save again. Any suggestions on what is happening here?

[MikeC]

Re: Problems with Auto-increment

Graham,

Unsure of why you would be losing auto-increment via field rules (if you truely are or is something is just making it look that way).

But if you are Copying a record why would you think it would increment it??

Seems like you may have tried one of these but it should work.

You should be duplicating (which will auto-increment) and then blank any fields you want or copy any fields into the newly created duplicate record.

OR

copy the record into a blog variable, entering new record, setting record data via variable

OR

??? probably many other ways as well.

[Graham Wickens]

Re: Problems with Auto-increment

In the case of the duplicated record, the increment value is copied from the original record, after updating relevant fields and saving the record the next available incremental value is usually applied to the field, but at times it does not. Also when adding new records the auto-incremented field is blank, yet the field rule displays as auto-increment!!

[MikeC]

Re: Problems with Auto-increment

Graham,

Sorry but I guess all I did was iterate what "should" happen and obviously you know that!!

Is this auto-increment on the parent table--should be.

You implied also that simply by hiding the auto-increment field it stops working--IOW it DOES work if the field is not hidden, correct?

Am just trying to get more info for others who may pick up on what maybe is the matter.

Also, if this is maybe a bug then a sample with instructions would have to be attached so that others can verify it as such.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Problems with Auto-increment

Graham, the problems you've described here and in other threads today suggest to me a systemic problem. You might try uninstalling vers 8, and then reinstallng, and then patching to the latest. -- tom

[Steve Wood]

Re: Problems with Auto-increment

Graham,

Whether you Copy or Duplicate or create a record in any way, it should autoincrement.

First, run File > Compact Database and try again.

Besides selecting Autoincrement on the first Field Rules tab, what other Field Rule or Browse settings have you made? Does it have a Default Value (if so, what), is it numeric or char, etc. any other Field Rules at all?

The settings I use for autoincement are:

- Always a charactor field, never a numeric (because often for web apps).
- Then I either a) just check the autoincrement, nothing else, or b) check autoincrement, provide a default value such as "10000", Skip=.t. and Set at Stat if data-entry.

[MikeC]

Re: Problems with Auto-increment

Steve,

Thanks for the correction on a Copy script/operation triggering the auto-increment....I did not realize a new record had to be started (enter mode) in order to start to Copy in which, of course, any new record would (or Should) cause a newly incremented number.