Re: [libreoffice-users] Cannot add primary key after saving without primary key.

David Smith wrote:
> Software: Libreoffice base
> Version: 3.5.4.2 (Debian Wheezy)
> Subject: Cannot add primary key after saving without primary key.
>
> I've got a problem.  I'm trying to test some different table designs.
> Whenever I create a table without a primary key, I find that I cannot
> go back and add a primary key later.  When I first save the table,
> Libreoffice asks me if I want to create a primary key now.  I choose
> "no" because I'm experimenting with some different table designs and
> didn't want to commit to anything just yet.
> 1. Create table without primary key.
> 2. Save table.
> 3. Libreoffice asks if I want to create a primary key now.
> 4. I choose no.
> 5. I later then open the table and set the primary key.
> 6. I save the table.
> 7.  I open the table again and the primary key that I chose was not saved!
>
> I've never had this kind of problem with a database before. Is this a
> bug or a missing feature?
>
>   
David,
I am using the MySQL server for my database and have seen similar 
problems.  I recently created a new table, selected the key, but forgot 
to set the "Autoincrement" attribute on the key before my first save of 
the table structure.  I tried several things, such as moving the key to 
a temporary field, but nothing allowed me to make the original key field 
autoincrement.  Every time I saved the table, the autoincrement 
selection on the key would revert to "No".  Since this was a new table 
and no data was in it yet, I ended up deleting the table and recreating 
it with the autoincrement set on the key before I first saved it.  I had 
similar things happen to me with table structure key definitions 
before.  Once, I had to use the MySQL Monitor program and some SQL 
statements to change key definitions on existing database tables.  Not 
fun and error prone, but it worked.  The odd thing is that there is no 
error message from the server when these things happen, which makes me 
suspicious of Base or the JDBC driver - even more so since you are using 
a different server.  The bottom line is that as far as Base table keys 
go, you must set them up properly before you do that first save of the 
new table structure.  In my experience, non-key fields may be changed or 
added after the first save.  The key field is special.
Hope this helps.
Girvin Herr

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