how to create a text box that generates auto number

[laniebalbido]

hi , im a new in php. id like to know how to create a textbox that generates auto number for every new record to be inserted.

thanks

[snapple]

you are a little vauge but I believe all you need is a counter.

say $count=0 then when you need a new text file, say $count++

This probably isn't what you are actually asking for, but i'm a little confused on your question.

[ronverdonk]

What "record to be inserted" are you talking about?
A database, a text file, ???

Ronald :cool:

[routinet]

You do not need to do this. When you insert the record, the database will automatically generate the autonumber required and report it back to you. It is much easier to report this information AFTER the insert has been done.

If you want to report it before the insert, then you actually have to insert a blank record to 'reserve' the autonumber. Without the proper care, this leaves blank records, incomplete data, or non-sequential records in your database. In other words, you can get the autonumber before inserting, but you have to make sure you are managing it correctly.

[ronverdonk]

If you want to know the next insert id before having done the actual insert, use MySQL's own table status and try the following code:
[php]<?
$tablename = "tablename";
$next_increment = 0;
$qShowStatus = "SHOW TABLE STATUS LIKE '$tablename'";
$qShowStatusResult = mysql_query($qShowStatus) or die ( "Query failed: " . mysql_error() . "<br/>" . $qShowStatus );

$row = mysql_fetch_assoc($qShowStatusResult);
$next_increment = $row['Auto_increment'];

echo "next increment number: [$next_increment]";
?> [/php]

Ronald :cool: