Re: [SQL] How to handle a requirement for nextval - Mailing list pgsql-sql

On Mon, 18 May 1998, The Web Administrator wrote:

> I am still struggling on a few issues, have got my first little database
> up and running, and am quite happy with PostGres, but I cannot figure
> out how to create a table which can have a field that autoincrements..
> I am sure that somewhere in the oid terminology it is built in, but I
> want to have a counter on some table entries..  ie...
> CREATE TABLE clothing_type (
>       type_id INT NOT NULL,
>       description TEXT,
>       for_sex CHAR
> );
> INSERT INTO clothing_type (
>    description,
>    for_sex
> ) VALUES (
>    'pants',
>    'm'
> );
>
> What I want is that the Primary Key (Only Key) be type_id, and int, and
> the first item that I insert should have type_id as '1', next will be
> '2'  etc..
> I could have every insert into this table include a type_id, but that
> seems unessary.
> Can I have something like default='nextval' ?
   CREATE SEQUENCE serial START 101;

   CREATE TABLE distributors (
          did      DECIMAL(03) DEFAULT NEXTVAL('serial'),
      name     VARCHAR(40)
      );

    -- Use sequence in insert:
    --
    INSERT INTO distributors VALUES (NEXTVAL('serial'));
                                                            Jose'