Question

Create random ID Unique

Asked by: AIdoHSG

Hello,
I have a table with two columns (RecordName, Id). I'm trying to create an 8 Character ID unqiue for each record using the characters A-Z (except for the letters L,O,I). The characters will need to be random and unique (the Ids should be executed using a stored procedure).

I'm not sure if I can create an array and loop through it for each record...
Does anyone have any suggestions?

I started by creating a temp table with the letters in there, but then I wasn't sure how to do the rest or if it should be done differently. I would appreciate the input.

Thanks,

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Asked On
2009-07-21 at 12:02:50ID24588596
Topics

SQL Server 2005

,

MS SQL Server

,

SQL Query Syntax

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: aneeshattingalPosted on 2009-07-21 at 12:09:41ID: 24908122

Why do u need a character Unique id, you can use uniqueidentifier column

select newId () always gives you unique values

 

by: pssandhuPosted on 2009-07-21 at 12:15:36ID: 24908204

UPDATE MyTable
SET ID = Select LEFT(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(NewID(), '-',''), 'L',''),'O',''),'I',''),8)

But the keys will have numbers. if you do not want it you can use replace to get rid of numbers as well.

P.

 

by: AIdoHSGPosted on 2009-07-21 at 12:39:46ID: 24908461

The characters that are created represent projects for studies in-house which this id will be later incoporated into Other project Ids. I need to make sure that the ID created is 8 characters in lenght and is combination of letters A-Z except for L,O and I. Each record must have these unique strand of characters.

passandhu, I tried your code and I got an error:
Incorrect Syntax near the Keyword 'Select'.

the user will be able to request this for only certain records, but I wanted to make sure that i can create this strand of characters before moving to the next phase.

I would appreciate the assistance thx.

 

by: pssandhuPosted on 2009-07-21 at 12:54:28ID: 24908651


UPDATE MyTable
SET ID =
REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(REPLACE(NewID(), '-',''), 'L',''),'O',''),'I',''),'0', ''),'1', ''),'2', ''),'3', ''),'4', ''),'5', ''),'6', ''),'7', ''),'8', ''),'9', '')

Alright so this will do what you are looking for.

Hope this helps.

P.

 

by: acperkinsPosted on 2009-07-21 at 19:04:38ID: 24910978

Here wrap this is in a function:
Declare @T table (C tinyint)
Declare @C tinyint,
            @Value varchar(8)

SET @C = 48
While @C <= 90
      Begin
            IF (@C BETWEEN 48 AND 57 Or @C BETWEEN 65 And 90) And @C Not In (73, 76, 79)
                  INSERT @T (C) Values (@C)
            
            SET @C = @C + 1
      END


Set @Value = ''
Select      TOP 8
            @Value = @Value + CHAR(C)
FROM      @T
ORDER By
            NEWID()

Select @Value

 

by: AIdoHSGPosted on 2009-07-22 at 07:06:13ID: 31606082

Thank you acperkins...
Would you be able to just explain to me what is happening in the syntax... just for my own benefits.

thank you again for your help

 

by: acperkinsPosted on 2009-07-22 at 19:01:49ID: 24921350

>>Would you be able to just explain to me what is happening in the syntax... just for my own benefits.<<
First of all I was not entirely serious when I posted that.  I do not believe that T-SQL it the right place to do that.  That is entirely a presentation layer problem that is best addressed with something like .NET.

But to answer your question here is what it does:
1. Inserts into a table all the valid values.
2. Picks 8 values at random ( NEWID() )
3. Concatenates them into a string.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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