numbering system

I am starting a logsheet database. I want each entry to begin with letter,
then the year, then a sequential number. Such as case number. I tried the
input mask, defining it as text and the sequential part remains zero.I
entered "R-08-"0000

example R-08-0001, R-08-0002, etc.
Any ideas will be appreciated, thank you. MK

There's a difference between what gets stored in relational database tables
and what you display for the users.

There's no need to store the "R" if every record will start with "R".

There's no need to store the "YY" if your record has a Date/Time field
that's being filled.

A "sequence number" is something you'll need to add a small procedure to
handle. Look up "custom autonumber" on-line and/or at mvps.org/access for
leads on this, and on how to get that sequence number to "reset" to 0001
when you get to 2009.

If you want to SEE (i.e., display) "R-08-0001", use a query to concatenate
the pieces together.

Regards

Jeff Boyce
Microsoft Office/Access MVP

"MK" wrote in message
...
I am starting a logsheet database. I want each entry to begin with letter,
then the year, then a sequential number. Such as case number. I tried the
input mask, defining it as text and the sequential part remains zero.I
entered "R-08-"0000

example R-08-0001, R-08-0002, etc.
Any ideas will be appreciated, thank you. MK

The design of every database begins with determining what needs to be
recorded and how the data will be used. It seems you first need to think
through why you even want to record this information. Please explain to us!

Steve


"MK" wrote in message
...
I am starting a logsheet database. I want each entry to begin with letter,
then the year, then a sequential number. Such as case number. I tried the
input mask, defining it as text and the sequential part remains zero.I
entered "R-08-"0000

example R-08-0001, R-08-0002, etc.
Any ideas will be appreciated, thank you. MK