MS Access FE / SQL BE Need AutoNumber to populate on form after saving

Question

So, I have an Access 2007 FE with an SQL BE. I am using a bound form for both adding a new record, or updating an existing record.

My problem is this: Unlike a local Access table, using SQL tables cause the AutoNumber field ("SeqID") to not be available until after the record is saved. I have a "save" button on the form, which does various validation steps on a new record, then adds a new record to the table upon successful validation. At that point, I'm able to get the AutoNumber for that record in my code, but the problem is that I cannot get the form to update/display it in the SeqID field. Because it's a bound form, I cannot simply update the SeqID.Value. I need to have this field updated because it is used for other things later on, such as audit trails for changed fields, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Try something on these lines. It works for me:

Private Sub AText_AfterUpdate()
   Me.Dirty = False
   Me.Recalc
End Sub

If the experiment works, it is just a matter of fitting the steps into the flow of your code.

Answer 2

When using SharePoint or SQL server, or in fact most server based databases, the autonumber ID is not generated until record save time. With a form + sub form, Access will ALWAYS do a automatic record save when focus moves to the sub form, and thus you don't have a problem attaching child records to these parent forms + records.

In the case of a bound form, the ONLY way to get the autonumber ID is to force the record save. The simple code is this:

If isnull(me!ID) = true then
    ' we don't have a record primary key yet, save record
   Me.Dirty = false
End if

At this point, you can then use the PK autonumber

MsgBox "pk = " & me!id

So, a simple me.Dirty = false will save the record, and will force generation of the ID and code that follows is then free to use + grab the PK autonumber at will.