on "uniqueidentifier"

When your database is distributed. For example: you have it on one central
server but some people also have it on their laptops and then syncronize
with the central server (through the sql srv technique called "replication")
when they have the connection (like once in a w). IDENTITY is not very
suitable for a key because there is no way to see how much records are in
the table right now.. GUID column will be a key unique in the whole system.
Hope I'm clear in my point.
Milan
P.S. I don't say that's not possible to achieve with IDENTITY - it would be
possible to tweak replication how to deal with such fields - but this
process is not straightforward if you have foreign keys...
"Martin Arvidsson" <yeahright@.ms.com> wrote in message
news:%23CUfIuGRGHA.5900@.tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Any good example on when to use the unique identifier?
> In the AdventureWorks database it's used frequently
> Doesnt the CustomerID for example represent a unique identifier?
> Regards
> Martin
>Hi!
I think so.
You can use for example
CustomerID and set it as a primary key, and use GUID to use for replication,
so that the system can keep track of the replication, is that correct?
Regards
Martin
"Milan Kosanovic" <milan@.REMOVETHISsoftlakecity.com> skrev i meddelandet
news:%23klfBVURGHA.3192@.TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> When your database is distributed. For example: you have it on one central
> server but some people also have it on their laptops and then syncronize
> with the central server (through the sql srv technique called
> "replication") when they have the connection (like once in a w).
> IDENTITY is not very suitable for a key because there is no way to see how
> much records are in the table right now.. GUID column will be a key unique
> in the whole system.
> Hope I'm clear in my point.
> Milan
> P.S. I don't say that's not possible to achieve with IDENTITY - it would
> be possible to tweak replication how to deal with such fields - but this
> process is not straightforward if you have foreign keys...
> "Martin Arvidsson" <yeahright@.ms.com> wrote in message
> news:%23CUfIuGRGHA.5900@.tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>