[AccessD] Autonumber Assigned Immediately

Except that the code you went to generate that unique number from the onset
probably isn't gong to "adhere to the following rules..." anymore than an
AutoNumber is. ;) 

Susan H. 

Exactly. An Autonumber is fine to display if your 'just want a unique
number', but come the day that "the management" (or "the new guy") steps in
and says "it's essential that we have a consistent numbering scheme in all
of our case records. It must adhere to the following rules...", then your
use of the Autonumber is no longer a good idea because you have *no control*
over them. Then you will be forced into generating the 'numbers' in code, so
you might as well do it from the beginning.