constraint name: what for?

From: <jerwynn_at_my-dejanews.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 1999 00:30:29 GMT
Message-ID: <7bshb5$po0$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>

Hi,

Can anyone explain the user of a constraint name such as pk_employee in:

//specifies the primary key as a table constraint

create table employee (
id number(3),
name varchar2(30),
constraint pk_employee PRIMARY KEY (id) );

or
// specifies the primary key constraint in the field (column constraint)

id number(3) constraint pk_employee PRIMARY KEY

Isn't it that Oracle autogenerates an identifier/constraint_name if you do not specify it?
What is the use of specifying the constraint_name in such a case?

BTW, I learned that it is necessary to supply a constraint_name when specifying a PRIMARY KEY table constraint. How come that it is allowed in column constraints to skip the constraint_name, while in table constraints there will be an error saying that the datatype is undefined.

Thanks.

JErwynn

-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==---------- http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own Received on Sat Mar 06 1999 - 18:30:29 CST