Oracle changed the ROWID size between Oracle7 and Oracle8. It went from 6 bytes to 10 bytes. So if a developer wrote code that only sized the ROWID to 6 bytes, it's probably not going to work when converted to Oracle8 or 9.
Jerry Whittle ACIFICS DBA NCI Information Systems Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 618-622-4145 > -----Original Message----- > From: Boivin, Patrice J [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2002 12:18 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > Subject: ROWID datatype columns and primary keys > > Can someone explain to me why some developers like to create ROWID datatype > columns in their tables? > > I am wondering why they sometimes do that instead of using primary keys. > > I searched for info on this on the Web, but nothing. > > ROWID access is probably faster than index access, I guess. > > I vaguely remember my Oracle instructor saying about four years ago that > using ROWIDs was bad practice in most cases, but I can't remember exactly > why he said that. > > ROWIDs are not reliable, when exports/imports take place and between COMMITS > if many users access the same table, if the row could be dropped and > re-created. > > Are there other reasons why someone might not want to use ROWID columns? > > I am just fishing for opinions. > > Thanks. > > Regards, > Patrice Boivin > Systems Analyst (Oracle Certified DBA) > -- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > -- > Author: Boivin, Patrice J > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Whittle Jerome Contr NCI INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
