Access database POS system conversion

[wespw1]

I have a database that was created in Access 97 converted to Access 2000, and then to Access 2003 that I created for my Store as a POS database system.
The problem is I originally created the ID field (IE Purchaser Table otherwise known as the customer ID) as a text field.
I was going to have the ID be part of the name. But that did not work well after the first 150 records or so and I changed the previous records to numbers 1-150 and went from there but I did not change the field to Numbers its still text. What I want to do is have it do auto numbers.
But I am afraid it will change or delete the number that is in that text field now. Plus the number sequence has become something like 12 off from the record number count on the bottom of the form. It is a hassle putting in the number for the employees using the database (to count from form # plus 12). So I want to be able to have it AUTO populate the customer ID for me as a number.
Can someone help me walk though the best way to make this transition without losing anything in the database now. I currently have about 3000 plus names in the database now.
Now that I think about it is similar to the structure of Northwind Traders database format by means of the Customer, order layout but with a ton more things for function etc.
Sorry for being long but I wanted to explain it as best as possible. Hopefully this makes sense and since I did not find anything anywhere else that talks about it in any other form I thought I would post it here.

Thank you in advance for your help

[MMcCarthy]

I have a database that was created in Access 97 converted to Access 2000, and then to Access 2003 that I created for my Store as a POS database system.
The problem is I originally created the ID field (IE Purchaser Table otherwise known as the customer ID) as a text field.
I was going to have the ID be part of the name. But that did not work well after the first 150 records or so and I changed the previous records to numbers 1-150 and went from there but I did not change the field to Numbers its still text. What I want to do is have it do auto numbers.
But I am afraid it will change or delete the number that is in that text field now. Plus the number sequence has become something like 12 off from the record number count on the bottom of the form. It is a hassle putting in the number for the employees using the database (to count from form # plus 12). So I want to be able to have it AUTO populate the customer ID for me as a number.

Using autonumber will cause all the problems you think it will

Can someone help me walk though the best way to make this transition without losing anything in the database now. I currently have about 3000 plus names in the database now.
Now that I think about it is similar to the structure of Northwind Traders database format by means of the Customer, order layout but with a ton more things for function etc.
Sorry for being long but I wanted to explain it as best as possible. Hopefully this makes sense and since I did not find anything anywhere else that talks about it in any other form I thought I would post it here.

Thank you in advance for your help

You will firstly have to change the field datatype to number (and any foreign keys relating to this field will also have to be changed.

You will then have to create some code, probably in the form current event of your data entry form.

First check that it is a new record.

If IsNull(Me.ID) Then ' if this is a new record
Dim tmpID As Long
 
    tmpID = DMax("[ID]", "[Table Name]") ' get the current max ID
    Me.ID = tmpID + 1 ' create new ID
 
End If