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phpmyadmin functionality question

Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:55 pm
by Bill H
With a table selected and you click on "Browse" the table, the rows are listed with each row having a little pencil displayed and a red "X" for editing or deleting the row. Sometimes, however, one or both are missing and just a small question mark is in its place. When I mouse over that column the cursor changes to the "What's this" symbol and the tool tip (sometimes) reads "you should define a primary key for this table."

Can anyone tell me what is causing that?

(Cannot define a primary key, by the way. The table contains no unique fields.)

Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:27 am
by Grim...
I get that too.
I just use the check boxes and the bottom links instead to edit, etc.

Don't know what causes it.

Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:19 am
by Bill H
Yeah, I'm using the cbeck boxes and bottom links, so it's not a problem really.
But it's jsut wierd. I thought at first there was something wrong with the records...

Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:25 am
by feyd
what it probably is is the iconic ones use primary key only, but the check boxes are using a more flexible selection system because it allows multiple records to be edited at a time...

Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:59 am
by Maugrim_The_Reaper
Remember - if you don't define a Primary/Unique key, then any manager must assume no one entry is entirely unique. So entry by entry changes become impossible unless you manually select (hence the checkbox/bottom buttons).

Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:53 am
by Grim...
Oh yeah! Add a primary key and it all starts to work :D

However, if the checkboxes can pick a single record out (unique or not), why can't the link?

Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:54 pm
by Bill H
I think I get it. The bottom ones present multiple selections for you to pick from. Even though the multiple might be only one because that's all that was checked, the prinpiple still applies.

The indiv icons always present an individual record, but they can't always do that without a primary key. Makes sense.

Thanks for clearing that up.