Auto increment for varchar in mysql

Question

it is possible to increment numbers automatically in MySQL. in the same way I want to increment for varchar. I heard we need some trigger but I don't have any idea how to do it and where to write the code for that. any help would be appreciated

Answer 1

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21145426/php-alphanumeric-auto-increment-insert-into-sql-database

First answer. Exactly what you're trying to do. [Keywords: mysql increment alphanumeric]

Answer 2

auto increment is not possible for varchar generally

it is done just adding the word AUTO_INCREMENT in query durring creating table.
CREATE TABLE Students{
ID int AUTO_...
}

you can manually increment it. or convert or during making it by php do like incrementing it by one and inserting ietc it will not be automatic

Answer 3

yes that would be possible by server script in PHP you can do like
$new_auto_increment=$last_id_fetched_from_database+1;

$id="BR000".$new_auto_increment;

$query='INSERT INTO Students ID VALUES "$id" ';

you can do that in varchar by automatic incrementing using program
for example last one is 0005 make program that gets it then
new no is 5+1 that is 6
now generates BR00006
and then inserts it after automatic incrementing into the varchar column.

Answer 4

yes the stack overflow answer is nice, and it's by SQL only without using script to increment

Answer 5

I heard some trigger is used... any idea?

Answer 6

There's no way you can increment a varchar i.e. some string in nature, only AUTO_INCREMENT which apply to integers i.e. 1, 2, 3 and so on

Answer 7

cool... thanks Sandeep

Answer 8

okay... for example my series should be like BR001, BR002... is this possible?