Re: SERIAL datatype

On Aug 21, 2008, at 2:23 PM, Peter Billen wrote:

> Oops, my example was a bit incorrectly edited.
>
> I wanted to say that the range of a serial datatype goes from 1 to 5
> (incluse) and I insert five entries (not 10).
>
> Peter
>
> Peter Billen schreef:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I would like to ask a question about the serial datatype. Say I
>> have a field of type serial, and say for the sake of example that
>> the range of a serial goes from 1 to 5 (inclusive). I insert 10
>> entries into the table, so the table is 'full':
>>
>> INSERT INTO my_table (my_serial) VALUES (DEFAULT);
>> INSERT INTO my_table (my_serial) VALUES (DEFAULT);
>> INSERT INTO my_table (my_serial) VALUES (DEFAULT);
>> INSERT INTO my_table (my_serial) VALUES (DEFAULT);
>>
>> Next I delete a random entry, say the one with value 3:
>>
>> DELETE FROM my_table WHERE my_serial = 3;
>>
>> Is it possible to insert a new entry? Will the serial sequence
>> somehow be able to find the gap (3)?
>>
>> The reason why I am asking is because I have a table in which
>> constantly entries are being deleted and inserted. What happens if
>> the serial sequence is exhausted? If it is not able to go the the
>> next gap, how is it possible to keep inserting and deleting entries
>> once the serial sequence has been exhausted? I can't find this
>> anywhere in docs.
>>
>> To me, it is perfectly possible that there is only one entry in the
>> table, with a serial value equal to its upper limit.
>>
>> Thanks in advance. Kind regards,
>>
>> Peter
>>

May be you want to use BIGSERIAL if you are worried?

Ries





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