What happens to the data in an auto-number field if converted to a text field?

When an auto-number field is converted to a text field in Salesforce, the existing data in the auto-number field remains unchanged. This is because the conversion process preserves the actual values that were generated by the auto-number system, allowing the data to retain its original form.

In this scenario, the auto-number field contains values in a specific numerical format that are automatically generated by Salesforce. When transformed into a text field, those same values simply become strings of text without modification. Therefore, all previously assigned values will still be accessible and intact after the conversion. This ensures that any existing records maintain their unique identifiers, which is crucial for data integrity and continuity within the application.

Other options suggest scenarios that would involve loss or alteration of the data, which does not occur in this straightforward conversion process.