0
Answered

How can I manually create a foreign key?

ELKE BIELECKI 9 years ago updated 9 years ago 4

Answer

Answer
OK, now I understand what's the problem. You can do this in Vertabelo.

Let's say you start from this point:





First, just create a reference from B to A:





Here, we get an autogenerated "B_contact_code" column. Just delete it:





An error is raised because there's no FK column defined in the reference. We just need to fix it. Select a reference and here's what we see:





Just click "X" on the right-hand side to delete this invalid pair of columns:





and then add a valid ones:






Done, we've got what we wanted:






We can also eliminate the need to delete this autogenerated column. It is possible to disable the generation of FK columns. You can do this on "My account" page:





Hope this helps!
GOOD, I'M SATISFIED
Thank you for the simple and elegant explanation. Now it works! I was almost there but was not doing the last step of clicking the +Add after selecting my primary and foreign key fields.
Satisfaction mark by ELKE BIELECKI 9 years ago
Answered
What do you mean by "manually"?

In order to create foreign key, just add a reference:
http://support.vertabelo.com/topic/438421-how-to-create-a-reference/

If you want to write some SQL stuff to create a foreign key (without a visual reference) you can use "Additional SQL script" section to do this.
I seem to be unable to designate an existing column name as the foreign key. I only have luck if I drag the reference line and let Vertabelo create the foreign key column name for me. In my case, I want to capture the way we contacted a customer, be it email, Facebook, twitter etc.

For example table A has the following fields:
• CUSTOMERS
• CONTACT_CODE
• CONTACT_DATE

And table B has the fields:
• CONTACT_CODE
• CONTACT_CODE_DESCRIPTION

I don't seem to be having luck simply trying to edit the reference between the two tables making CONTACT_CODE in table B a foreign key to table A. I keep getting a new field named TABLE_A_CONTACT_CODE_ID.
Answer
OK, now I understand what's the problem. You can do this in Vertabelo.

Let's say you start from this point:





First, just create a reference from B to A:





Here, we get an autogenerated "B_contact_code" column. Just delete it:





An error is raised because there's no FK column defined in the reference. We just need to fix it. Select a reference and here's what we see:





Just click "X" on the right-hand side to delete this invalid pair of columns:





and then add a valid ones:






Done, we've got what we wanted:






We can also eliminate the need to delete this autogenerated column. It is possible to disable the generation of FK columns. You can do this on "My account" page:





Hope this helps!
Ahh, I was missing the last little step of clicking +Add after selecting my primary and foreign keys from the drop down. I mistakenly thought that would add another row of primary and foreign key. At any rate, that did the trick. Thanks so much!