Random alphanumeric string

[ironcito]

Hello!

I'm looking for a way to have a field in my database that will
automatically be filled with a random 4-character alphanumeric string
every time I enter a new record. Like an autonumber field, but
alphanumeric and random. Could anyone tell me how to do this? Please
explain it so that a newbie can do it. Thanks a lot, and have a nice
day! =)

[Steve Jorgensen]

On 28 Mar 2005 00:05:36 -0800, "ironcito" <co****@ironcit o.com> wrote:

Hello!

I'm looking for a way to have a field in my database that will
automaticall y be filled with a random 4-character alphanumeric string
every time I enter a new record. Like an autonumber field, but
alphanumeric and random. Could anyone tell me how to do this? Please
explain it so that a newbie can do it. Thanks a lot, and have a nice
day! =)

Something like this, perhaps? This is untested, so it might need some
debugging.

Public function Random AlphaNumString( StringLen As Long) As String
Dim lngCharNum As Long
Dim strResult as String

strResult = Space(StringLen )
For lngCharNum = 1 to StringLen
Mid$(StringLen, lngCharNum, 1) = RandomAlphaNumC har()
Next

AlphaNumString = strResult
End Function

Public function RandomAlphaNumC har() As String
Dim lngBase36Num As Long

Randomize
lngBase36Num = Int(Rnd(1)*36)

If lngBase36Num < 10 Then
RandomAlphaNumC har = Str(lngBase36Nu m)
Else
RandomAlphaNumC har = Chr(Asc("A") + lngBase36Num - 10)
Endif

End Function

[ironcito]

Hi, and thanks for your answer. You must excuse my ignorance, but where
should I enter all that? =/
Thanks again.

[Alan Webb]

Ironcito,
If you can click on the Modules tab of the database window of an Access
database and the New | Module button works, then add a new Module to your
database and type all that there.

"ironcito" <co****@ironcit o.com> wrote in message
news:11******** *************@g 14g2000cwa.goog legroups.com...

Hi, and thanks for your answer. You must excuse my ignorance, but where
should I enter all that? =/
Thanks again.

[ironcito]

OK I've added the module! (Should I remove "Option compare database"
from the begining?) Now what do I do with the module, so as to
accomplish my initial objective? Thanks a lot.

[Ronald W. Roberts]

ironcito wrote:

OK I've added the module! (Should I remove "Option compare database"
from the begining?) Now what do I do with the module, so as to
accomplish my initial objective? Thanks a lot.

Now that you have the function in a module, you can call it from any
place in your application... such as a form or query or report or
another subroutine in a module section. Remember functions return an
answer so you need to define a string to hold the answer.

Dim MyRandomFourCha racters as string
This is the call:
MyRandomFourCha racters = AlphaNumString( 4)

You can also return any number of random characters using the function
given to you.
Dim MyRandomTenChar acters as string
MyRandomTenChar acters = AlphaNumString( 10)

You should read help or purchase a book on Access.

Ron

--
Ronald W. Roberts
Roberts Communication
rw*@robcom.com

[ironcito]

Hi!

You must excuse me for my ignorance and persistency, but I'm not
experienced with functions and I do not work much with Access regularly
so as to justify learning everything. Just a final question, once I
have created a module, how do I call it? Suppose I want to create a
form that will automatically fill the field with the 4-character
alphanumeric string everytime I create a new record, but not create a
new string if I edit one... what do I type and where? Thanks! =)