ACC2000: AutoNumber Field As Primary Key Sets Maximum Table Size

In Microsoft Access 2000, the AutoNumber data type has a NewValue property that enables you to select either Random or Increment as the method of creating the next value for the field. If you select Random, values are assigned as Long Integer. Otherwise, values in an AutoNumber field increment from 1 to 2,147,483,647. The next record receives the minimum negative value for a Long Integer, -2,147,483,648. The AutoNumber value for each subsequent record is one greater than the previous value, until it reaches zero. Therefore, the maximum number of records that a table may hold if the primary key data type is set to AutoNumber is 4,294,967,295.

For more information about the AutoNumber data type, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type datatype property in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.