Primary Key is created after certain fields are populated

[Mike555]

How can you setup a primary key so that it is created only after 3 record fields are created?

Example...I want my primary key (name = ID) to be created after data is put in the text fields market, value, invoice.

Thanks.

--
Mike

Man usually avoids attributing cleverness to somebody else -- unless it is an enemy. - A. Einstein

 

[mikey69]

Assume that your primary key is an autonumber? Access allocates the autonumber as soon as it creates a new record. A possible workaround is to put the data into global constants initially and then create a record using DAO or ADO (depending on your version of Access). You'd have to write a few lines of Visual Basic to achieve this. Re-post if this is not clear.

Access makes all things possible. It even makes them intelligible

 

[Transcend]

May I ask what the purpose of creating a primary key AFTER inserting records is ... ?

Transcend

 

[danvlas]

You can create the primary key value whenever you want [/b]before[/b] saving the record if you use a form.
Use the BeforUpdate event of the form to calculate it.

But don't calculate your primary key as a combination of other fields! The primary key in a table must be independant!!!

Either set your primary key on n fields (n being the number of fields that make a unique concatenated value) or make it on a numeric (AutoNumber or Long Integer) field.

If AutoNumber, never give the primary key any meaning to the user. Its only purpose is to uniquely identify each record in a table. To eliminate the temptation, set it as Random, not Incremented...

If Long Integer, you'll have to calculate it by code everytime a record is inserted.

HTH



Daniel Vlas
Systems Consultant

http://www.geocities.com/danvlas/AutoMail.html

 

[Transcend]

Oh right I think i was confused

you mean calculate it after you have put certain fields in as opposed to creating a primary key column ... like in the table design

Transcend

 

[Mike555]

Thanks for all the info. I've figured the easiest way to go would be the auto number.

--
Mike

Man usually avoids attributing cleverness to somebody else -- unless it is an enemy. - A. Einstein