Generating the next sequential key...

Hi,

I have this app which is relatively database independent. I would like to serve the smallest scale (MS Access) up to the largest database server (Oracle).

I recoginize that I will need to write database specific code for Oracle i.e. generate the next number from a sequence.

For the rest I pondered this idea...

1. Have a table with a row per database table and the last number used in it. pro's: nice sequential number con's: contention to get the next number (maybe grab a few at a time ugh)
2. Generate a random number between 1 and 1000000000 pro's: very fast con's 1 in a billion chance to create a duplicate (maybe try the insert again if it happens?)

Are there other strategies I am missing?

thanks

Tim Received on Mon May 01 2006 - 11:22:56 CDT