Why can't a primary key be duplicated?

  • Thread starter Thread starter torijoshmom
  • Start date Start date
Because a primary key, by definition, identifies a unique record within a
table. If it can be duplicated, then you don't have uniquely identifiable
records in your table.
 
torijoshmom said:
Why can't a primary key be duplicated in Access?
Click to expand...

For the same reason you can't have the same address referring to two
different buildings.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Tony's Main MS Access pages - http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/
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It's not just Access. No relational database will allow duplicate data in the
primary key field of a table.
 
Maybe if you describe the table, its definition, and the columns in the
table someone might be able to suggest a better data structure and/or a
better primary key. As others said, a unique primary key is a requirement in
a properly designed data structure.
 

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