Hi Michael 01.02.02 16:27:24, "Fochtman, Michael" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>BMJI, > >But isn't 'last_insert_id()' only meant to be called after inserting a >record?? If you've never inserted a record (using the current connection), >it seems like calling 'last_insert_id()' would be a meaningless call. It >could return the highest value of the auto-increment column, but it could >just as easily return -1 or 0 or Avagadro's number. just as you say, if you didn't create a new (autoincremented) record, there will be NO last_insert_id(). the name of the function already tells what it's supposed to do. if you ever call it BEFORE any autoincrementing INSERT, it will return 0 . >I thought it was only meant to retrieve the value that is automatically >inserted into an auto-increment column. The column isn't supposed to be set >by the INSERT statement, the backend engine will figure out the next >available number and put it in. yes and no. normally you won't set the value explicitly, you want to get the next automatically generated value. but you MAY set a new starting point for the sequence. this is sometimes required! e.g.: if you ever transfer data from one to another DB, you will have to initialize the counter properly. >But the client can't know in advance what that value is going to be. So if >the client needs to know what was 'decided' by the engine, it can call >'last_insert_id()' AFTER inserting the record. yes. > >Or am I all wet here... > >Mike Fochtman [removed tho whole quoted original] please, don't append the whole original mail if you don't want to use it for citation. regards Andreas mysql, sql, select --------------------------------------------------------------------- Before posting, please check: http://www.mysql.com/manual.php (the manual) http://lists.mysql.com/ (the list archive) To request this thread, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Trouble unsubscribing? Try: http://lists.mysql.com/php/unsubscribe.php
