> -----Original Message-----
>
> Hi,
>
> "Actually, I can't. Do you mean that index_name is a separate column or
> just an alias for index_col_name? The manual does have a line for the
>synta
> x
> of UNIQUE but it never explains it!"
>
> Well all it means is that you can specify a name for the index. It's
> optional because in itself it doesn't do anything. Really it's for your
> convenience as much as anything.
>
> "Also, optional doesn't necessarily mean implied. In fact, are you sure
> that UNIQUE implies INDEX?"
>
> Yes, a unique one. To perhaps confuse things, so does KEY (KEY is a
> synonym for INDEX).
>
> Hmm, I'm not convinced. I'd think the opposite would be preferable in
>order to allow a column to be defined as UNIQUE without it being an INDEX.
>Then again, you might be right but not because of what can be found in the
>docs.
To ensure that column values are UNIQUE would be horribly inefficient
if the column were not indexed. You'd have to do a full table scan
every time you added or modified a column value.
I'm beginning to wonder if you're trolling. Are you?
--
Paul DuBois, paul@stripped
