Changes to the behavior of AutoNumber fields when you replicate a database

When you replicate a database, any incremental AutoNumber fields in your tables change to random numbering. All AutoNumber fields in existing records retain their values, but AutoNumber values for inserted records are random. In other words, the record numbers don't reflect the order in which the records were inserted and, consequently, the record inserted last doesn't necessarily have the highest value.

Before you replicate a database, determine whether any of your applications or users rely on AutoNumber field's incremental numbering. If so, you can use an additional Date/Time field to provide sequential ordering information.

Note   Replicas in an Access database that were created from a Microsoft SQL Server publication retain the AutoNumber functionality to support SQL Server's Named Range feature. You must manage these ranges in each replica. For more information about replication in a Microsoft Access project, click .