Re: Quick question re foreign keys.

From: "Phillip Smith" <phillip(dot)smith(at)weatherbeeta(dot)com(dot)au>
To: "'Paul Lambert'" <paul(dot)lambert(at)autoledgers(dot)com(dot)au>, "'pgsql-sql'" <pgsql-sql(at)postgresql(dot)org>
Subject: Re: Quick question re foreign keys.
Date: 2007-10-24 02:14:57
Message-ID: 009001c815e3$acc65e20$9b0014ac@wbaus090
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> My question therefore is, is it possible to create a foreign key that is
> conditional, i.e. only enforce the foreign key where the value in that
> table is not null.

My understanding from reading previous threads on this topic is the answer
is no, however you could make your own pseudo-foreign key using triggers to
do the same job, but only when your column is not null.

Not sure of the performance impact of doing this though - someone else may
be able to advise pros and cons in more detail.

Cheers,
~p

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