Using IDENTITY as a key column

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Using IDENTITY as a key column

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Hugo Kornelis

Posted Monday, April 19, 2010 8:10 PM

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Comments posted to this topic are about the item Using IDENTITY as a key column

Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server MVP
Visit my SQL Server blog: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/hugo_kornelis

Post #906457

Paul White

Posted Monday, April 19, 2010 8:19 PM

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First correct answer! Yay for me Wink

I liked this question - especially the first part about IDENTITY allowing duplicates, which I am sure will surprise many people.

I am less sure about the wording in the second part of the question, "SQL Server does not have an efficient way to retrieve rows based on a known value for PersonID." because that rather depends on the number of rows in the table.

I don't think it would have been giving too much away to say something like "SQL Server cannot use an index to locate rows based on a known value for PersonID".

Paul

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Post #906459

SQLRNNR

Posted Monday, April 19, 2010 8:34 PM

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Nice question Hugo.

I am with Paul on this one - the wording on the second part is a little iffy. It can still be answered correctly. I just had to think about it for a second.

So far, the answer rate for this question is higher than your previous questions too (50%).

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Post #906464

Deepak Sharma-2311

Posted Monday, April 19, 2010 11:23 PM

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I am agree with the first statement but the second statement "SQL Server does not have an efficient way to retrieve rows based on a known value for PersonID." confusing me.

Deepak Kumar Sharma

Post #906530

SQLRNNR

Posted Monday, April 19, 2010 11:52 PM

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Deepak Sharma-752112 (4/19/2010)

I am agree with the first statement but the second statement "SQL Server does not have an efficient way to retrieve rows based on a known value for PersonID." confusing me.

It is in reference to the default of SQL Server creating an index on that column. For Primary key columns, an index is auto-generated - but that is not true of an identity column, unless the identity column is a part of a Primary key.

Post #906543

Paul White

Posted Tuesday, April 20, 2010 12:00 AM

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CirquedeSQLeil (4/19/2010)

...but that is not true of an identity column, unless the identity column is a part of a Primary key.

Or a UNIQUE constraint, as the QotD explanation says Wink

Paul White
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Post #906549

SQLRNNR

Posted Tuesday, April 20, 2010 12:03 AM

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Paul White NZ (4/20/2010)

CirquedeSQLeil (4/19/2010)

...but that is not true of an identity column, unless the identity column is a part of a Primary key.

Or a UNIQUE constraint, as the QotD explanation says Wink

Thanks for tidying that up BigGrin

Post #906553

Paul White

Posted Tuesday, April 20, 2010 12:19 AM

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CirquedeSQLeil (4/20/2010)

Thanks for tidying that up BigGrin

You can always rely on me Wink

Paul White
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Post #906564

ST_John

Posted Tuesday, April 20, 2010 12:39 AM

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Hang on a minute ...

"Even though the IDENTITY property is intended to be used for key columns, SQL Server will not automatically generate a constraint to enforce the uniqueness, so duplicate values (caused by the methods above) will not be banned from the table. SQL Server will also not automatically create an index to speed up access based on the IDENTITY value (though it will do so when you add the PRIMARY KEY or UNIQUE constraint to enforce uniqueness of the IDENTITY column, as it does for each PRIMARY KEY or UNIQUE constraint). "

the question asked if SQL server had an efficient way to query records, not if it would use that method automatically!

Assumption is the mother of all F***ups

Post #906569

tommyh

Posted Tuesday, April 20, 2010 12:41 AM

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Even though i actually got this right the wording of the question aint that good. And that could be part of the reason why the correct/incorrect ration is out off wack (81% wrong at the time).

The heading said "Using IDENTITY as a key column". Key part there being "key". Now combined with the fact that the create table statement was incomplete "-- other columns);". Got me wondering if the author had a missing "primary key (PersonID)" at the end (or something similar). Or that is was implied that there would be code to create a key. Which of course would have inverted the answer.

Though this could be a result from lack of english skills on my part.

Though i must say i liked the question since i got it right BigGrin

Post #906570

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