>>
>>thanks Larry for the code... do you think the user should see the AUTO NUMBER before the record is added?
>>thanks again for the code..
>
>From what I understood you wanted to show the number while the user was adding information. If the user doesn't have to know the number until the information is confirmed, then I would go back to the original numbering method, to prevent from having blank/unused/deleted records. If the user need to know before the data is saved then using the other method will allow you to display the number at any time.

thanks Larry... If show the number while the user is adding, and if the
user does not SAVE, at most, all I will get is a gap in the AUTO NUMBER.
There will not be any BLANK/DELETED/UNUSED records. This is the way ACCESS
does it and my users need to see the number while they are adding. I
just did not want gaps, and since, AUTO NUMBERING is only for identification and not a record count, it is OK. thanks again....