Ok, the database does not care...
But traditionally (and I cannot change that) we use numbers composed of
a special scheme and certain number ranges indicate some properties
connected with it (e.g. numbers between 1 and 199 indicate that those
invoices return every year, numbers between 200 and 2999 are for general
purposes etc.).
So I have to make sure that they do not leave the intervals which can
happen if there are many missing numbers.
Alan wrote:
> What is wrong with having missing numbers? Generally, the idea is to have
> unique numbers, which you have. The database does not care if numbers are
> missing.
>
>
> "Stefan Röhle" <roehle_at_uni-mainz.de> wrote in message
> news:bgo4g6$35c$1_at_bambi.zdv.Uni-Mainz.DE...
>
>>Hi there,
>>
>>I have encountered a strange problem: a sequence seems to leave out
>>numbers - how can that happen?
>>
>>But let me describe the setup briefly:
>>For out internal online ordering system I use a function (stored in db,
>>lets call it new_number()) that creates new invoice numbers. These have
>>to be unique so new_number() fetches a new number from a sequence for
>>each invoice number.
>>The whole application consists of a few webpages based on php using the
>>pear db.php to communicate with our oracle 8i server.
>>Each time a user creates a new invoice new_number() is called in order
>>to supply a new number. (it is only possible to get a new number once,
>>so there is no problem with the 'reload' button of the browser)
>>Everything is logged so that I can review which user has created which
>>new invoice-number etc.
>>When everything is ok, the numbers have no gaps inbetween, but sometimes
>>there are small gaps (3 or 4 numbers missing) and even large gaps (30-50
>>numbers missing).
>>
>>I have no idea how that can happen especially because I log each call of
>>the new_number() function in my php-scripts...
>>In order to troubleshoot that I first had a trigger in mind that fires
>>when the function is called but since that is not possible I have no
>>further idea how to find the error. Any ideas?
>>
>>Stefan
>>
>>--
>>*******************************
>>Stefan Röhle
>>Zentrum für Datenverarbeitung
>>Johannes Gutenberg-Universität
>>D-55099 Mainz
>>Germany
>>
>>Tel. +49-(0)6131/39-26303
>>Fax. +49-(0)6131/39-26407
>>Email: roehle_at_uni-mainz.de
>>*******************************
>>
>
>
>
--
*******************************
Stefan Röhle
Zentrum für Datenverarbeitung
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität
D-55099 Mainz
Germany
Tel. +49-(0)6131/39-26303
Fax. +49-(0)6131/39-26407
Email: roehle_at_uni-mainz.de
*******************************
Received on Tue Aug 05 2003 - 09:26:43 CDT
