Tables and Primary Key autonumber

[snoop832]

Hello,


I have a huge data base that I will be splitting up into many tables. My question is when creating additional tables is it necessary to add a (auto-number reference) to each table I make? The tables will be joined by relationships and having 1 Primary table with auto-number in it.

If I have to why is it important?

Thanks Andy

[ranman256]

You only need it to make unique items.
states don't need it, they have the state id: NY, CA,etc.
People need it because there is nothing to make a person unique. Not name ,not phone.

if you sell items, like amazon shopping cart, it needs an ID. The OrderID can be autoNum, then the sub table tOrderItems have the OrderID as Long integer to match its parent.
So it's good for a parent/child data structure.

[snoop832]

Ranman,

Thank you very much.... Very good detail. I really appreciate it!
Andy

[orange]

snoop,

Review the links provided in this post.

Good luck.

[snoop832]

Thanks orange,

I'll look at later tonight. I really appreciate that too!
Andy

[orange]

Good luck.

A Primary key does not have to be an autonumber. However, some people use this a "their rule".

The purpose of a primary key is to ensure that each record in a table is unique.