adding a incremental number

Hello,

I am working on a basic insert of data into a SQL2000 table, I am new to SQL and only know really basic things right now. The table has a number field that is not a identity field but the numbers must be uniqe. How do i use the number of the previous record to create the new number of the record i am inserting.

Here is an example of the insert statement i have already:
insert into T_eaddress
(
eaddress_no, "This is the field that will hold the number"
customer_no,
eaddress_type,
address,
start_dt,
primary_ind,
inactive,
market_ind,
create_dt,
html_ind
)

select
"this is where i need the function"
epatron_pactpatronnum,
'3',
epatron_email,
epatron_bademaildate,
'n',
epatron_activee,
'y',
getdate(),
'y'

from e_patron inner join
t_eaddress on e_patron.epatron_pactpatronnum =
t_eaddress.customer_no


Any insight would be great.
Thanks

Why not define that number as an identity field? If you cannot do that, consider making the field a timestamp value.

Phil J.