Say you've got two records that contain exactly the same information. How do you tell them apart? How does QuickBase tell them apart? To avoid confusion, QuickBase requires each table to feature one field that contains a unique value for each record. This is called the key field. This field ensures that records which are identical in every other way always have one unique identifier. Usually, QuickBase creates this field for you and names it Record ID#. As you add records, the program automatically populates this field with a new unique number.
If you want, you can designate another field in a table as the key field. Of course this must be a field that contains unique values. The advantage to choosing a different field, is that it might contain a value that's more meaningful than an arbitrary number. For example, fields like Part Number, Account Number or Employee ID# usually work well. (If you'd prefer, you can make the key field a text type field instead of a numeric field.) When you create your own key field, QuickBase displays it as a required field on the table's entry form.
In the table bar on any application page, click the table whose key field you want to change. Within the menu that appears, select Customize --tablename-- table > Fields.
On the upper right of the field list, click
Set the Key Field button.
A Change the Key Field dialog box opens.
Click the dropdown and select the field you want to set as the key field.
Click OK.
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