SQL/MX 2.x Reference Manual (G06.24+, H06.03+)
SQL/MX Language Elements
HP NonStop SQL/MX Reference Manual—523725-004
6-58
Keys
Keys
NonStop SQL/MX supports these types of keys:
Clustering Keys
First (Partition) Keys
Index Keys
Primary Keys
SYSKEYs
Clustering Keys
NonStop SQL/MX organizes records of a table or index by using a b-tree based on the 
“clustering key”. Values of the clustering key act as logical row-ids. The set of columns 
that make up the clustering key must guarantee uniqueness. If necessary, to guarantee 
uniqueness, NonStop SQL/MX appends an additional key to the set of columns you 
specify to define the clustering key as shown in Table 6-1 and Table 6-2 on page 6-59. 
Any table or index that enforces uniqueness must also have the property that its 
primary key is the same as its clustering key.
You can update any column in the table that is not part of the clustering key. Note that 
this differs from product versions prior to SQL/MX Release 2.x, in which the restriction 
was that you could not update any column that is part of the primary key.
Table 6-1 compares construction of the clustering key for tables with various 
combinations of the STORE BY and PRIMARY KEY options.
Table 6-1. Construction of the Clustering Key (page1of2)
Primary Key 
Specified
DROPPABLE 
Attribute Clustering Key
No STORE BY No Not applicable SYSKEY
Yes DROPPABLE SYSKEY
Primary key enforced by unique 
index.
Yes NOT 
DROPPABLE
Same as primary key
STORE BY 
primary key
No Not applicable Not supported (error)
Yes DROPPABLE Not supported (error)
Yes NOT 
DROPPABLE
Same as primary key










