Autoinc key fields in a Paradox multiuser database - URGENT

hi mazzini,

that would be difficult, because the next autoincrement-value is part of the table header and will be read and increased just as the record will be inserted.

well, its a very short time, where it can be happen,
that two clients retrieved the same autoinc-value.

if it appears often then review the netdir and private-dirsettings
to following rules:
- netdir-entry -> must be char by char the same on each client
- privatedir-entry -> must be physical different for each client

if it appears sometimes,
then i would recommend to do a autoincrement byself, which a seperat table holding one integerfield, which is opened exclusive, read the value and stores the value+1 back.

another solution would be to catch the keyviolation-exception,
waiting some milliseconds and then post again.

hope this helps a bit

meikl

meikl:

Thanks for answering quickly !!

I'll verify netdir/privatedir, test again and tell what happened.

Your tip of using a separate table to implement an autoinc by myself sounds to be a solution. I'd prefer to use autoinc fields at first, but if I can't get a solution in a short period of time, I'll try your tip.

Thanks again.

hi again mazzini,

just a sample, how it could be done, if you do the autoinc byself
(in this case you must restructure your Table(s) to set the autoinc-field to a LargeInteger-field before)
(delphi code here)

//Function for Retrieving the next Value
//the physical table, where
//table2 is pointed to, holds only one record with one integerfield
//initial prefilled with the value 1
//Three tries to open the table exclusive

Function TForm1.Get_Next_Id : Integer;
const Retries  = 3;
var
  OK : Boolean;
  Retry : Integer;
begin
  OK := False;
  Retry := 0;
  Result := -1;
  Table2.Exclusive := True;  //Open Exclusive
  while (not ok) and (Retry < Retries) do
  begin
    try
      Table2.Open;
      Result := Table2.Fields[0].AsInteger;
      Table2.Edit;
      Table2.Fields[0].AsInteger := Result + 1;
      Table2.Post;
      Table2.Close;
      Ok := True;
    except
      Inc(Retry);
      Sleep(100);  //wait a bit, adjustable if to short
    end;
  end;
  If Not ok then
    Raise Exception.Create('Problem Getting ID-Value');
end;

//Sample to call
//Just in the BeforePost-event
procedure TForm1.Table1BeforePost(DataSet: TDataSet);
begin
  If Table1.State = dsInsert then
  try
    Table1.FieldByName('Id').AsInteger := Get_Next_Id;
  except
    ShowMessage('Insert Failed :-(');
    Abort;
  end;
end;

just if you need to go this way

meikl

hi mazzini,

any results?

just forgot to say, that the netdirfile must be on a shared directory, where all clients have access to it.

meikl

Hi meikl,

sorry for the silence, but I was busy.   :-)

Since I don't have much time for test, I will use your routine in place of all the autoinc fields I'm using now.

After correcting the use of NetFileDir, as you have pointed, I used the sequence with LockTable (read/write) / Refresh / Append / Post / UnlockTable (write/read) and all runs properly, but I don't have time to test it hardly. So, since I don't want to put my neck on it, I will use your routine in place of autoinc fields.

If you post an answer, the points are yours. And, once again, thanks for your tips. They really helped!

Best regards
Mazzini

hi mazzini,

just to say that the softwaresolution is a workaround,
because if paradox properly configured, then it will be hard
to reproduce your problem, but possible.

if you have further problems (i don't hope this),
then contact me via email
meikl@spektracom.de
or post it in this q
(i let the notification-mark checked here)

well, glad to helped you
good luck again

meikl ;-)

One more time, thanks. I will keep your e-mail, but hope not to annoy you too much ;-)

Mazzini
mazzini@via-rs.net