[ic] One table, multiple vendors, product codes not unique

[cfm@maine.com]

Re: One table, multiple vendors, product codes not unique

We've got a mall scenario with multiple vendors in same
tables and therefore we commonly have more than one
instance of an sku, say '1000'.

The unique key is not (sku) but instead it is (sku,id), 
where id is the vendor number and guaranteed
to be there.  We are using a custom price routine for 
now but would like to get rid of that for mainstream.

We assign our own unique keys and sku's but the mall 
vendors need to be able to link in with their own like:
  vlink.cgi/1234?merchant=my_store
And JOINs need to reference their codes.

Can newer versions (>4.03) stock mv/ic handle that?

I'm tempted to modify Table/DBI.pm to always include the
id key in queries or maybe to use Watch Points.  Can 
anyone share any thoughts on this?

cfm

-- 

Christopher F. Miller, Publisher                             cfm@maine.com
MaineStreet Communications, Inc         208 Portland Road, Gray, ME  04039
1.207.657.5078                                       http://www.maine.com/
Content management, electronic commerce, internet integration, Debian linux