Re: Design approaches about primary key

Van Messner wrote:

>
> A matter of design and method I suppose. You don't like public synonyms, I
> don't like to change primary keys.

I don't like either. A primary key that needs to be changed is an admission of a bad design.

>>
>>I'd disagree on SSN but it is not guaranteed to be unique and of zero
>>value to an international organization. In the case you describe the
>>only valid solution is a surrogate "PERSON_ID" value.

And that's exactly the point. The decision is based on the data, the application, and the context. Not following some rule from a web site or some advise written in a book. Good design means thinking things through ... not just doing what you did last time.

We get paid to work ... not to copy.

-- 
Daniel Morgan
http://www.outreach.washington.edu/ext/certificates/oad/oad_crs.asp
http://www.outreach.washington.edu/ext/certificates/aoa/aoa_crs.asp
damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
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