Oracle-L: RE: Design question...

From: Mercadante, Thomas F <NDATFM_at_labor.state.ny.us>
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 10:20:56 -0800
Message-ID: <F001.00446E18.20020417102056@fatcity.com>

Chris,

I would prefer the first method. As far as I am concerned, the only reason to use a sequence number as a primary key is if the value for the natural primary could could possibly change.

In this case, the two char state codes have been around for a very long time and would probably not change.

The other think I would be concerned with is considering Canadian Province codes. Would they fit within a "STATES" table structure?

This crazy world of ours is getting soooooo small, that thinking provincially about state codes may no longer be correct anymore.

hope this helps.

Tom Mercadante
Oracle Certified Professional

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 1:19 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

To simplify my question, if I am creating a STATE table to hold all the states of the US, should I create it like this...

Name                                      Null?    Type
----------------------------------------- --------
----------------------------
STATE_CODE                                NOT NULL CHAR(2)         <-- PK

STATE_DESC                                NOT NULL VARCHAR2(50)

or like this...

Name                                      Null?    Type
----------------------------------------- --------
----------------------------
STATE_ID                                  NOT NULL NUMBER          <-- PK 
STATE_CODE                                NOT NULL CHAR(2)
STATE_DESC                                NOT NULL VARCHAR2(50)

I'm trying to figure out which is more efficient, STATE_CODE or STATE_ID, when doing a PK lookup, dealing with FKs, etc.

Many TIA!!!

Chris
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Author: Grabowy, Chris
INET: cgrabowy_at_fcg.com

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Author: Mercadante, Thomas F
INET: NDATFM_at_labor.state.ny.us

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