Can a unique key ( not a primary key) be a foreign key to other table? - oracle

I have two table students and studentsprofilepic
'username' from students is unique key of the table
it is referenced as foreign key for the 'studentsprofilepic' table
the DDL for the tables are
CREATE TABLE students (
id NUMBER,
username VARCHAR2(30),
password VARCHAR2(30),
firstname VARCHAR2(30),
lastname VARCHAR2(40),
email VARCHAR2(300),
dob VARCHAR2(20),
alt_email VARCHAR2(300),
street_address VARCHAR2(50),
address_2 VARCHAR2(50),
city VARCHAR2(30),
state VARCHAR2(30),
zip VARCHAR2(10),
country VARCHAR2(60),
telephone VARCHAR2(10),
CONSTRAINT student_id_pk PRIMARY KEY (id),
CONSTRAINT student_username_uk UNIQUE (username)
);
CREATE TABLE studentsprofilepic (
id NUMBER,
photo_id NUMBER,
photo BLOB,
PRIMARY KEY (photo_id),
FOREIGN KEY (username) REFERENCES students (username)
);

YES, The foreign key column establishes a direct relationship with a primary key or unique key column (referenced key) usually in another table:
CREATE TABLE BOOK(
BNAME VARCHAR2(10)NOT NULL UNIQUE,
BTYPE VARCHAR2(10));
CREATE TABLE BOOKS_AUTH(
A_ID INT NOT NULL,
BNAME_REF VARCHAR2(10) NOT NULL,
FOREIGN KEY (BNAME_REF) REFERENCES BOOK (BNAME));
SQLFIDDLE DEMO

Yes, why not. It is possible to reference a UNIQUE constraint in a FOREIGN KEY.
You could have a Primary key and an Unique key, and you would like to validate both.

Yes, you can reference a column (or columns) governed by either a primary key constraint or a unique constraint.
The problem with your table "studentsprofilepic" is that your foreign key tries to use the column "studentsprofilepic"."username", but that column doesn't exist.
create table studentsprofilepic(
id number,
photo_id number,
photo blob,
-- Add the "username" column.
username varchar2(30) not null,
primary key (photo_id),
foreign key (username) references students (username)
);
Also, ask yourself "What's the point of "studentsprofilepic"."id"?" It's not the primary key. It's not a foreign key. It doesn't seem to serve any purpose besides letting you say, "Hey, my table has a column named 'id'!" That's a questionable feature.
Think about adding more not null constraints.

Related

Create table field with foreign key constraint

I want to create a table department:
COLUMN NAME DATATYPE SIZE CONSTRAINT
dept_id number 4 Primary key
prod_id number 4 Foreign key
I tried this:
CREATE TABLE Department(
dept_id number(4) primary key,
prod_id number(4) foreign key);
It shows error. How can I add a foreign key constraint to this table?
A foreign key defines a relationship between your table DEPARTMENT and another table with a primary key. It means, you cannot create a row in DEPARTMENT with a PROD_ID of 1234 unless there is a pre-existing row in the designated parent table with a value of 1234 as its primary key.
So do you have such an existing parent table? if so you need to include its name in the foreign key definition. Otherwise you must create it.
Let's say the parent table is PRODUCT:
create table product (
prod_id number(4) primary key
, name varchar2(32) not null
);
Then you can create DEPARTMENT with a foreign key like this:
CREATE TABLE Department(
dept_id number(4) primary key,
prod_id references PRODUCT );
Yep, that's all the syntax you need: it automatically creates a column PROD_ID with the same datatype and precision as the primary key column of the referenced table. More verbose syntax is available. Read the Oracle SQL documentation to find out more.
I assume that the other table is named other_table_name and that it contains a primary key named prod_id.
CREATE Department (
dept_id number(4) primary key,
prod_id number(4) REFERENCES other_table_name (prod_id)
);
or a different syntax
CREATE Department (
dept_id number(4) primary key,
prod_id number(4)
...
CONSTRAINT fk_prod_id
FOREIGN KEY (prod_id)
REFERENCES other_table_name (prod_id)
);

I want to have only 3 columns (departure_City_Id, arrival_City_Id, Emp_number). However, when I come to insert value , it says that I have 4 columns

For the Epms table, I want to have only 3 columns (departure_City_Id, arrival_City_Id, Emp_number). However, when I come to insert value, it says that I have 4 columns. The extra one for City_Id. All I want is to avoid having City_Id column in this table. I declare it because I need it just as FK.
CREATE TABLE City (
City_Id char(3),
state varchar(30),
Primary key (City_Id)
);
create table Emps (
Emp_number varchar(30) primary key,
City_Id char(3),
departure_City_Id char(3),
arrival_City_Id char(3),
FOREIGN KEY (City_Id)
REFERENCES City(City_Id),
FOREIGN KEY (City_Id)
REFERENCES City(City_Id)
);
This is pretty straightforward, just specify e.g. , FOREIGN KEY (arrival_city_id) REFERENCES city(city_id) and you'll get an index.
CREATE TABLE emps (
emp_number varchar(30) NOT NULL,
city_id char(3) NOT NULL,
departure_city_id char(3) NOT NULL,
arrival_city_id char(3) NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (emp_number),
KEY city_id (city_id),
KEY departure_city_id (departure_city_id),
KEY arrival_city_id (arrival_city_id),
CONSTRAINT emps_ibfk_1 FOREIGN KEY (city_id) REFERENCES city (city_id),
CONSTRAINT emps_ibfk_2 FOREIGN KEY (departure_city_id) REFERENCES city (city_id),
CONSTRAINT emps_ibfk_3 FOREIGN KEY (arrival_city_id) REFERENCES city (city_id)
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
" I want is to avoid having City_Id column in this table. I declare it because I need it just as FK."
But you don't need it. The foreign key columns are the arrival and departure columns, and those are the ones you must reference in the constraint declarations:
create table Emps (
Emp_number varchar(30) primary key,
departure_City_Id char(3),
arrival_City_Id char(3),
FOREIGN KEY (departure_City_Id)
REFERENCES City(City_Id),
FOREIGN KEY (City_Id)
REFERENCES City(arrival_City_Id)
);
Naming constraints is optional but you may find it helpful when debugging foreign key failures, especially when a table has multiple constraints referencing the same parent key.

data base oracle foreign key error ORA-02270: no matching unique or primary key for this column-list

while making foreign key in player table it shows following error
ORA-02270: no matching unique or primary key for this column-list
create table person
(
per_ssn number(10) not null,
per_name varchar2(30) not null,
CONSTRAINT pk_PersonID PRIMARY KEY (per_ssn,per_name)
);
create table Player
(
player_ssn number(10) not null,
player_name varchar2(30) not null,
football_club_name varchar2(30) not null,
p_age number(2) not null,
p_weight number(3) not null,
p_height number(10) not null,
country varchar2(20) not null,
p_starting_date date not null,
p_ending_date date not null
);
alter table Player
add constraint player_ssn
FOREIGN KEY (player_ssn)
REFERENCING person (per_ssn)on delete cascade
I want to make two primary keys in person table and then want to refer these
primary keys in player table.
If I make one primary key and then refer it in player table, then it does not show error but I want to make two primary keys.
You should be referencing per_ssn,per_name because that is your PK on person.
Anyway, think about making per_ssn your PK in person table
alter table Player
add constraint player_ssn
FOREIGN KEY (player_ssn,player_name)
REFERENCING person (per_ssn,per_name)on delete cascade

Can two or more tables which share same foreign keys share a constraint on that foreign key?

What is the problem with this code??
It gives error "name already used by another constraint". Also if I can't define same constraint in different tables then is there any way I can reuse the previously defined constraint?
Any insight??
CREATE TABLE tbl_formats
(
format_id NUMBER(5),
format_name VARCHAR2(50),
format_desc VARCHAR2(100),
valid_from DATE,
valid_to DATE,
format_type VARCHAR2(50),
CONSTRAINT pk_format_id PRIMARY KEY(format_id)
);
CREATE TABLE tbl_format_detail
(
id NUMBER(10),
format_id NUMBER(5),
src_field VARCHAR2(200),
target_field VARCHAR2(100),
business_rule VARCHAR2(4000),
expression VARCHAR2(4000),
target_segment VARCHAR2(4),
CONSTRAINT pk_id PRIMARY KEY(id),
CONSTRAINT fk_format_id FOREIGN KEY(format_id) REFERENCES tbl_formats(format_id)
);
CREATE TABLE tbl_client_formats
(
client_format_id NUMBER(10),
format_id NUMBER(5),
client_id NUMBER(5),
CONSTRAINT pk_client_format_id PRIMARY KEY(client_format_id),
CONSTRAINT fk_format_id FOREIGN KEY(format_id) REFERENCES tbl_formats(format_id),
CONSTRAINT fk_client_id FOREIGN KEY(client_id) REFERENCES tbl_clients(client_id)
);
It seem like the foreign key constraint 'fk_format_id' defined in the table 'tbl_client_formats' conflicts with the same constraint already defined in the table 'tbl_format_detail'.
I am new to oracle so explain even the obvious things please.
The problem is that you're trying to use the same constraint name twice.
Just use a different name for your second constraint (e.g. fk_client_formats_format_id), and you should be fine.
Generally, I'd recommend using the table name as part of the constraint name, to avoid name clashes (if the constraint name gets too long, you'll have to use some kind of abbreviation scheme).
Foreign key are stored in a database range, not a table range. You cannot have two FK with the same name on the same database, even if they are not in the same table. You could name your FK that way:
FK_PARENT_CHILD_FIELD
ex:
FK_FORMATDETAILS_FORMATS_ID,
FK_CLIENTFORMATS_FORMATS_ID,
FK_CLIENTFORMATS_CLIENT_ID

Oracle foreign key relation

I have a composite primary key in my Candidate table
CREATE TABLE CANDIDATE(
CANDIDATE_ID VARCHAR(5),
NAME VARCHAR(30),
TELEPHONE NUMBER,
PRIMARY KEY(CANDIDATE_ID, NAME));
When I create a child table, I get an error saying the number of referencing columns must match referenced columns when I create a foreign key for the CANDIDATE_ID
CREATE TABLE JOB(
POSITION_ID VARCHAR(5) PRIMARY KEY,
CANDIDATE_ID VARCHAR(5),
DATE2 DATE,
FOREIGN KEY(CANDIDATE_ID) REFERENCES CANDIDATE);
A table can only have one primary key-- you have a composite primary key. If you have a composite primary key, you have to reference the entire key in your child table. That would mean that the child table would need to have a CANDIDATE_ID column and a NAME column.
CREATE TABLE job (
position_id VARCHAR2(5) PRIMARY KEY,
candidate_id VARCHAR2(5),
name VARCHAR2(30),
date2 DATE,
FOREIGN KEY( candidate_id, name ) REFERENCES candidate( candidate_id, name )
);
Of course, you probably don't want to store the name in both tables. You probably want the candidate_id to be the prmiary key of candidate and you may want to create a separate unique constraint on name.
CREATE TABLE CANDIDATE(
CANDIDATE_ID VARCHAR(5) primary key,
NAME VARCHAR(30) unique,
TELEPHONE NUMBER);
CREATE TABLE JOB(
POSITION_ID VARCHAR(5) PRIMARY KEY,
CANDIDATE_ID VARCHAR(5),
DATE2 DATE,
FOREIGN KEY(CANDIDATE_ID) REFERENCES CANDIDATE(candidate_id));
Assuming that the combination of CANDIDATE_ID and NAME is required for the key to be unique, then you will need to add a reference to the NAME column in your referencing table.
I suspect that CANDIDATE_ID is enough to uniquely identify the candidates in your primary table. If that is the case then it should be your primary key and your relationship will work. If you want to index the NAME separately then do so, but leave it out of the primary key.
Last line should be like this;
CONSTRAINT FK_CANDIDATE_ID FOREIGN KEY (CANDIDATE_ID)REFERENCES CANDIDATE(CANDIDATE_ID);
CREATE TABLE dept
( did char(3) not null,
dname varchar2(20) not null,
CONSTRAINT dept_pk PRIMARY KEY (did)
);
strong text
create table emp
(
eid char(3) unique,
ename varchar2(10) not null,
sal number check (sal between 20000 AND 50000),
city varchar2(10) default 'texus',
did char(3) not null,
constraint fk_did_dept
FOREIGN KEY (did) references
dept(did)
);

Resources