Primary Key

[santalea]

how do i initialise the primary key if i am using mysql instead of microsoft access?

[NogDog]

Not sure what you mean by "initialise". Primary key just means that the field in question must (1) be unique and (2) is indexed - there's really nothing to be initialised (that I'm aware of). If you're talking about an auto-incremented integer field, when defining the table you can set the starting auto-increment value by adding auto_increment=123 in the table options section at the end of the table definition.

[thoughtcube]

Once you give a field the property "primary key", it immediately 'gets into play'. Nothing more is needed.

This is how MySQL works, and every other RDBMS I am familiar with.

[chazzy]

This is how MySQL works, and every other RDBMS I am familiar with.

Actually you're supposed to have the capabilities of turning off the keys whenever you want.

[thoughtcube]

Actually you're supposed to have the capabilities of turning off the keys whenever you want.

Yes, you're right. MySQL can do that, for example. But, by default, a defined key is enforced, until you make some change to the settings.

[chazzy]

mysql has no "disable key"

[thoughtcube]

mysql has no "disable key"

As far as I know - yes and no.

The MySQL ALTER TABLE command has a DISABLE KEYS clause, but only for nonunique indexes. So, this is irrelevant for primary keys.

[sitehatchery]

On an Insert statement, you can "initialise" an auto incrementing primary key by setting it to null.

[chazzy]

As far as I know - yes and no.

The MySQL ALTER TABLE command has a DISABLE KEYS clause, but only for nonunique indexes. So, this is irrelevant for primary keys.

The problem with that is that the constraint is supposed to be considered its own entity, entirely separate from the table. of course it only exists as long as the table exists, but its status shouldn't be controlled by the table in that way.

So yes, you can disable a key by altering a table but you can't alter a key's status by itself.