How to Set Auto Increment Value In MySQL

MySQL helps you maintain your customer data.

MySQL is a free and widely-used database that runs on a variety of platforms, including Windows, Unix and Mac. Popular languages are supported, allowing you to create an application that utilizes MySQL whether you desire to use C++, Java or PHP. MySQL provides the language for you to create and modify a table, which includes the syntax to set an automatic increment value. This is useful for generating table primary keys.

Instructions

1. Access your MySQL table and go to the portion where you created your table. It should resemble this:

   CREATE TABLE customers (

   ident MEDIUMINT NOT NULL,

   NAME CHAR(20) DEFAULT '' NOT NULL,

   PRIMARY KEY(ident)

   );

2. Insert the text "AUTO_INCREMENT" on the primary key "ident" line. Change the code for your specific table accordingly.

   CREATE TABLE customers (

   ident MEDIUMINT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,

   NAME CHAR(20) DEFAULT '' NOT NULL,

   PRIMARY KEY(ident)

   );

3. Save your database changes. The table will increment the "ident" field automatically.

References

• MySQL: MySQL 5.0 Reference Manual: Using AUTO_INCREMENT

Resources

• MySQL