Re: Default column value of MAX +1 of column - possible in Oracle 9i?

On 24 Mar 2005 08:04:51 -0800, usenet_at_fitzg.com (David FitzGerald) wrote:

>Hello -
>
>I'm trying to do something which I think ought to be simple, but am
>finding hard!
>
>I have a table which I want the default value of the "ID" column to be
>"MAX(ID)+1" - I can't get this to work. Is this possible to do, or am
>I barking up the wrong tree? The reason I need to do this is that an
>application needs to add to this table, but will not be able to do a
>"select MAX(ID)+1 from emp" before it inserts the new row. It also
>can't do a subselect in its insert. A PITA!
>
>I have thought about using a sequence instead, but this would require
>changing application code which I am reluctant to do.
>
>Is it at all possible to have a default value as I outline above?
>
>Any help or pointers you can give would be greatly appreciated!
>
>David.

Use sequences. In that I agree with the other responders. But *don't use triggers unless you really have to*. Change your application code instead.

Triggers are evil. They don't scale well and they make application changes more awkward, time-consuming and expensive.

• Kenneth Koenraadt