I'm well aware of the need for a primary key, in addition to a sound table design, however, I'd like someone else to "word" a response for me.
A co-worker built a data file (a data table on an AS400) with six fields. The only unique "key" of the record is the entire record, itself. The combination of all six fields must be used to identify the exact record. "This is how it's done," is the reply I get. (I've been building web-based apps using relational DBs for 8 years. I have never used an entire record as the primary key.) I'm not passing an entire record through a URL or in hidden form fields. Imagine the nightmare of maintaining this application... A discussion of the existence of Oracle's sequences and SQL's identity fields did little to sway this person's opinion. This person's entire development background is AS400 with a history of bad database design. Now, I'm creating the table myself to do it right. ;-) Any thoughts? Thanks M!ke ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Special thanks to the CF Community Suite Gold Sponsor - CFHosting.net http://www.cfhosting.net Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:183705 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
