Change primary key value

Jim_Smith · November 25, 2013, 4:57pm

For some reason I have it in my head that changing the value of the Primary Key is a NO NO.

Like an SSN that was typed in error, and record saved to the DB, then later corrected and re-saved.

I had the idea that your had to delete the incorrect record then save a new corrected record.

Which is it?

DaveS · November 25, 2013, 5:29pm

The only constraint on a Primary Key is that is MUST be unique to the table
So you can change the field, as long as the new value does not violate this constraint.

Jim_Smith · November 25, 2013, 5:51pm

Thanks Dave

KarenA · November 25, 2013, 6:01pm

Just watch out if it is used as foreign key in another table/

Paul_Lefebvre · November 25, 2013, 6:57pm

This is why I prefer artificial primary keys over using a “natural” primary key. If you have any table relationships at all, changing the primary key could result in a data integrity nightmare.