Re: primary key debate

behind the scenes serial value. what happens if you mis-type the value initially and then create a bunch of record that are linked off of that value? It's best to keep the primary key a serial or non-visible field. "M.J. Holley" <datashark@fastlane.net> wrote in message news:9027D3C4A10C3C93.257FC2611855940F.FEA45F6FCE33B4D7@lp.airnews.net... > There is a debate going around here on primary key. Taking votes here. > Should the primary key be a field that can be updated (an actual usable form > field) or should it always be behind the scenes? > > For example, social security number is obviously unique id for a patient > record. Would most of you use SSN as the primary key or would you still > have a "behind the scenes" serial value as primary? > > m > >