An IDENTITY column contains a value for each row, generated automatically by Adaptive Server, that uniquely identifies the row within the table.
Each table can have only one IDENTITY column. You can define an IDENTITY column when you create a table with a create table or select into statement, or add it later with an alter table statement.
You define an IDENTITY column by specifying the keyword identity, instead of null or not null, in the create table statement. IDENTITY columns must have a datatype of numeric and scale of 0, or any integer type. Define the IDENTITY column with any desired precision, from 1 to 38 digits, in a new table:
create table table_name (column_name numeric(precision ,0) identity)
The maximum possible column value is 10 precision - 1. For example, this command creates a table with an IDENTITY column that allows a maximum value of 10 5 - 1, or 9999:
create table sales_daily (sale_id numeric(5,0) identity, stor_id char(4) not null)
You can create automatic IDENTITY columns by using the auto identity database option and the size of auto identity configuration parameter. To include IDENTITY columns in nonunique indexes, use the identity in nonunique index database option.
By default, Adaptive Server begins numbering rows with
the value 1, and continues numbering rows consecutively as they
are added. Some activities, such as manual insertions, deletions,
or transaction rollbacks, and server shutdowns or failures, can
create gaps in IDENTITY column values. Adaptive Server
provides several methods of controlling identity gaps described
in “Managing identity gaps in tables”.
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