Re: Is the use of VARCHAR(256) as Primary Keys preferred in Oracle?

From: Pablo Sanchez <pablo_at_dev.null>
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 17:36:27 GMT
Message-ID: <Xns92CA6BE7C18D4pingottpingottbah@209.242.64.107>

"Niall Litchfield" <niall.litchfield_at_dial.pipex.com> wrote in news:3dd91abe$0 $8513$cc9e4d1f_at_news.dial.pipex.com:

> "Pablo Sanchez" <pablo_at_dev.null> wrote in message
> news:Xns92C9EFAF939C3pingottpingottbah_at_209.242.64.107...

>> "Jim Kennedy" <kennedy-family_at_attbi.com> wrote in

> news:8o%B9.73293$1O2.5806

>> @sccrnsc04:
>>
>> > a surrogate key is an arbitrary key (eg a sequence).  A natural key is

> one

>> > that is naturally part of the data (eg in the US the social security

> number

>> > for people)
>>
>> As a side note, SSN's are intended to be unique but are not for a
>> variety of reasons.

>
> A marvellous example of the problems of 'natural keys'.

... and that was my subtle point! heh heh!

-- 
Pablo Sanchez, High-Performance Database Engineering
http://www.hpdbe.com

Received on Mon Nov 18 2002 - 11:36:27 CST