Thanks for the reply...

However, one of the benefits of SQL Server's GUID type
is that it is stored internally as a 128-bit number.
Storing it as a hexadecimal character field will
require at least 32 characters and if you want to
store it in the typical GUID form you need 38
characters. The nice thing about SQL Server's support
is that you simply insert the GUID as if it is a
string and it will be converted to the 128-bit number
internally automatically. This would be very useful
in Firebird. It'll be much more efficient as well
(using less than half the bytes) than the alternatives
- much better for indexing as well.

BTW, GUID keys are great when merging databases.

Cheers,
Kevin.

--- Noel Cosgrave <noel.cosgrave@...>
wrote:

>
>
> By the way, the UUID/GUID UDF can be found at
> http://www.ibphoenix.com/downloads/uuidlib.zip
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kevinbe71 [mailto:kevinbe71@...]
> Sent: 21 March 2005 15:49
> To: Firebird-Architect@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Firebird-Architect] GUID Key Fields
>
> Hi,
>
> I like the way Microsoft's SQL Server supports GUIDs
> as a native field type.
> They work particularly well for "autonumber" type
> key fields.
> Are there any plans to support GUIDs natively in
> Firebird?
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin.
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Firebird-Architect/
>
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