How to choose initial value for auto incrementing field

[mpsn]

Hi, I"m trying to create a simple online buying site and I have a unique ID as well as a unique IMEI (it is the identification number used on cellular phones) that I want also to be unique but I want to choose the starting value to be some big number like 1000000000000000 (16 digit value), I think this is a simple question, I'm using phpmyadmin if that helps btw. 

[Maq]

I think this is a simple question

What is?  I don't see any questions.

 

Do you need help building the id, storing it, what is the problem?

[requinix]

Why 16 digits? Does it have to be that long? Are you trying to obscure something?

[mpsn]

I was trying to go for more authenticity since actual cellular phones have this IMEI (ID number) being that long, but I can go shorter if  that's the case, just let me know how, thanks.

[Maq]

I was trying to go for more authenticity since actual cellular phones have this IMEI (ID number) being that long, but I can go shorter if  that's the case, just let me know how, thanks.

The number is depends on what YOU want.  What is this for?  If this is just a unique identifier then use an auto-incremented field and start at 1.

[mpsn]

So not possible to have this auto incrementing digit start at a number I want?

[Maq]

So not possible to have this auto incrementing digit start at a number I want?

It is possible.  Read the manual - http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/example-auto-increment.html

 

To start with an AUTO_INCREMENT value other than 1, you can set that value with CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE, like this:

 

mysql> ALTER TABLE tbl AUTO_INCREMENT = 100;

[requinix]

Note that you'll need a BIGINT/SERIAL column (as INTs only go to 10 digits).

 

We're asking because this "authenticity" might not actually be necessary.

[mpsn]

or is there a numerical data type that can hold 16 digits, like double or big int?

[xyph]

You can always just store it as auto increment, starting at 1. Before you display it, add some arbitrary number, say 1432564 to it.

 

Just subtract that number when you want to query the DB.