Around 6 months ago I wrote in, with difficulty setting the ID column to
auto-number. At that time Drew sent me a series of instructions for how
to do it-- but that included instructions as part of an import process
(from MS Access), because at that time I was indeed doing an import. I
have pasted his instructions from that time below*. There he instructed
me to set the ID column to REQUIRED during the import, so that no NULLS
would be allowed. And his instructions worked perfectly.

Now I am not involved in an import. I already have the database set up
in Base, and it is not allowing me to set the ID column as auto-number
in the edit window. I tried following Drew's previous instructions to
put a command in the SQL window (see below), but it would not accept it
because the ID column is not set as "REQUIRED" and I do not see anywhere
where that setting can be accomplished.

Frank had told me at that time, I believe, that the problem was solved
in 2.3. But now I am using 2.3 and it still seems to be giving the same
problem. 

I was even willing to allow Base to delete the currently existing ID
column and reestablish another ID column which would be auto-number. But
that Base would not allow to be done either.

Please kindly send me your instruction for how to set the ID Column to
auto-number. And by the way, I would like to keep the e-mail address
column as primary key, so that it will not allow any duplicate addresses
to be entered. I can temporarily change the PK to the ID column in order
to set up auto-number, but ultimately want to reset the PK to the e-mail
address column for the above stated reason.

Thank you very much,
Swarup


* (Drew's instructions for setting ID column to auto-number)

> During import you must set the column that will be the PK and
Auto_increment to 'REQUIRED" - therefor no NULLs are allowed.
> 
> After the import, you open the table in the table editor. In the list
of tables, right click on the table and select EDIT.
> 
> NOW set the column to be the PK. Save the table.
> 
> Then you must use the SQL window to handle the last step.
> Open the SQL window with TOOLS > SQL
> 
> Assuming my table is named Table1 and the column is named ID I would
enter this command:
> 
> ALTER TABLE "Table1" ALTER COLUMN "ID" IDENTITY
> 
> Click on the Execute button.
> 
> Yes, if after you alter the pk columns in the tables to be IDENTITY
> you run SHUTDOWN SCRIPT or SHUTDOWN COMPACT in the sql window, close
> Base and reopen it everything works just fine.
>
> The column type is changed without any loss of data.

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