random charectors

I generally use the "autoincrement" in MySQL for generating a unique key field - it's pretty straightforward and requires no special PHP. What is the advantage in getting 100 random characters? Wouldn't it be less efficient once you got a few records in there - particularly if you have it included in other tables as a foreign key?

The database runs on several machines inclusing ones in my car and they are not all connected together. I use the field to identify records during sync. The auto increment can cause the same number to appear on several databases but in different records

I generally use the "autoincrement" in MySQL for generating a unique key field - it's pretty straightforward and requires no special PHP. What is the advantage in getting 100 random characters? Wouldn't it be less efficient once you got a few records in there - particularly if you have it included in other tables as a foreign key?

Random characters can clash as well.
Why not just add a source field and use that and the autoincrement field together, source would be "car" or whatever.

Thanks for the suugestions but no one has simply answered the original question.
Can I get PHPRunner to create 100 charectors and add to a field as it creates a record? And if so, can someone help me achieve it? Why I need the field doesn't matter. Its there and its staying. I simply would like to get a web interface and I can use phprunner and like it but need the above

Random characters can clash as well.

Hi,
to generate random number and save it in the field use Before record added event.

Use rand() PHP function in it:

http://php.net/manual/en/function.rand.php

Thanks heaps.
So can I convert that to what in Delphi or Pascal is called a STRING (letters) and add them to each other to make up 100 charecters
Like
Var

Randomkey : String;

Begin

While Length(randomkey) < 100 do

Randomkey :=Randomkey + FloatToStr(Random);
End;
In other words, how is this done in PHP

Hi,

Hi,
it's PHPRunner-related forum.
To convert your custom code to PHP check PHP manual:

http://php.net/manual/en/function.rand.php

http://php.net/manual/en/function.strlen.php