David, in short, you are answering the OP's question as:
"Yes, use UUIDs in a 4D context rather than SeqNos. And, by the way, the way 4D implemented these UUIDs - I don't approve with it." Fine :-) Marcus MacStrass - Marcus Straßmann Softwareentwicklung und Beratung Auf der Markscheide 35 D-44807 Bochum Mobil: +49 (173) 374 39 92 eMail: macstr...@macstrass.de > Am 04.08.2017 um 21:52 schrieb David Adams via 4D_Tech <4d_tech@lists.4d.com>: > > 4D's UUIDs function as globally unique row *serial numbers*. That's great > for backups and convenient for physical relations, but it has exactly zero > to do with a real "primary key" or relational integrity. I would have > preferred to see UUIDs implemented as a virtual field: > > [Customer].UUID() > > or > > Get record UUID ([Customer]) > > ...and let 4D manage them internally, automatically, and invisibly. But > that's not how it worked out. > > Yeah, UUIDs are impossible to type and I'm still not 100% clear on how you > search for empty ones. I've seen the tech tips etc., and still get some > really eerie weird results at times. > > In my own code, I tend to run verification methods that check for real > (logical) keys. Namely, the field or combination of fields that uniquely > identifies the *data* in the row. A UUID-as-physical-key very easily masks > duplicate rows because it is, by definition, unique. You row might be > unique, but your data might not be, if you know what I'm saying. > > Anyway, I tend to scan for duplicate data, orphan records (a child record > that *requires* a parent and doesn't have one is an orphan. Not all child > records require parents, but 4D's diagrams, etc. don't distinguish between > the two.) Oh, an widows. Mostly, I find lurking duplicates and orphans. > Widows? Not so often. Not sure if that's just me. In theory, none of these > things should ever happen. But then again, a whole lot of things work out > better in theory... > ********************************************************************** > 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) > FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html > Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html > Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech > Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com > ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **********************************************************************
