Re: Duplicate values when using same sequence to generate columns across two different tables

From: David Johnston <polobo(at)yahoo(dot)com>
To: pgsql-novice(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: Re: Duplicate values when using same sequence to generate columns across two different tables
Date: 2013-11-27 16:45:00
Message-ID: 1385570700511-5780603.post@n5.nabble.com
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Thomas Kellerer wrote
> Aditya Rastogi, 27.11.2013 10:00:
>> I am using the same sequence to auto-generate values for columns in
>> two different tables. If multiple parallel sessions are inserting
>> values in either of the tables, is there a chance that there might
>> occur entries with the same integer in the two tables or in one of
>> the tables?
>
> No, absolutely not.

While strictly true usually duplicates within a table are prevented via a
unique index on the serial column - but that doesn't work in this case -
though it will prevent duplicates in the same table. The problem is that
even if you define a sequence and use it as a default it is possible for
someone to manually specify a value instead - ignoring, and skipping the use
of, the sequence. That may or may not be a concern but it can happen and in
absence of a constraint preventing such you could end up with
cross-table-duplicates.

David J.

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