Automatic increment in a number

[Jackewing98]

Hi all

I am looking for some further help if possible?

I have a database, in column one I have numbers i.e.

A1 - 1
A2 - 2
A3 - 3

This database holds the details of employees for the company by alphabetical order. When a new member of staff joins there details are inserted into the relevant section. How do I get the numbers to automatically work out the new number?

For example

A1 - 1 B1 - Adams
A2 - 2 B2 - Beach
A3 - 3 B3 - Clarke

If then I have someone start with surname of Blake I have to insert a row between A2 and A3 but the new entry to read employee 3.

A1 - 1 B1 - Adams
A2 - 2 B2 - Beach
A3 - 3 B3 - Blake
A4 - 4 B4 - Clarke

Thanks

 

[RalphA]

Without resorting to VBA, I would use something like this:
A1 =ROW()
and copy down. You will see:
A1 1 B1 Adams
A2 2 B2 Beach
A3 3 B3 Clarke

Now, you inser a new row A3, and get:
A1 1 B1 Adams
A2 2 B2 Beach
A3
A4 4 B4 Clarke

Copy A2 to A3, getting:
A3 3

Now, enter the rest of the data for new row 3.
B3 Blake

Let us know if the above solves your problem

 

[RalphA]

Oops!

 

[Datsmart]

Put this formula in cell A2 and copy down.

=A1+1

Then when you insert a new row, copy the formula down again through the new row.

 

[Datsmart]

I like RalphA's idea of using ROW().
But if you add a header row and move your data down, the numbers will pickup their new row numbers, this may not be desirable. But it works fine in your example.

 

[RalphA]

In case your first row with data (your 1) is not row 1, just compensate. Thus, if your first data row is row 3, then, in A3, enter =ROW()-2. All the rest remains the same.