[Chicago] auto incrementing - what options do we have?

[Garrett Smith]

Just use an auto increment int column in mysql. The only reason you'd ever want to do that yourself is if you're a) bored, b) need something than other a simple incrementing integer c) will distribute the data across databases, in which case you'll need an approach that ensures key uniqueness.



----- "John-Stockton Irick" <irick at uchicago.edu> wrote:

> I'm going to assume that you're talking about mysql.
> 
> >From mysql.org
> "
>  To start with an AUTO_INCREMENT value other than 1, you can set that
> value with CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE, like this:
> 
> mysql> ALTER TABLE tbl AUTO_INCREMENT = 100;
> "
> 
> http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/example-auto-increment.html
> 
> Hope that helps.
> 
> On Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 8:53 AM, Lukasz Szybalski
> <szybalski at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I was wondering if anybody has a good strategy for auto incrementing
> fields?
> >
> > I want to auto increment field called "case#" .
> >
> > I have a choice of database auto increment on field "case#" or do
> it
> > myself? (correct? No other choices exists? or something in
> between?)
> >
> > 1. I would like to be able to do pick a number where we will start
> > doing a case#?  (1,000,000+)
> > 2. Reserver a case# for a special group which can auto increment
> case#
> > between 2,000,000-2,999,999, and add them as they come.
> > 3. I don't want to use (system_id)
> >
> > So it seems as the only way is to make my primary key:
> > case# - unique key, primary, not auto incrementing and let some
> > program manage auto incrementing.
> >
> > What options have worked for you in this situation?
> >
> > So right now options are:
> > 1. let db auto increment
> > 2. Hold the next case# in a separate database table, and let my
> > program use it to find next case# value. How would I lock/unlock
> the
> > next case# to make sure there is no race condition and each case#,
> and
> > there is no holes?
> > 3. Any other options?
> >
> > Have people used other strategy that is semi-automatic, and would
> work
> > for these cases?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Lucas
> >
> >
> >
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> JS Irick
> Lead Engineer
> Cacioppo Labs
> Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience
> 773-702-6279
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