SQL/MX 2.x Reference Manual (G06.24+, H06.03+)
SQL/MX Language Elements
HP NonStop SQL/MX Reference Manual—523725-004
6-59
First (Partition) Keys
Table 6-2 compares construction of the clustering key for unique and nonunique 
indexes.
First (Partition) Keys
The FIRST KEY option of the PARTITION clause specifies the beginning of the range 
for a range partitioned table or index partition. The FIRST KEY clause specifies the 
lowest values in the partition for columns stored in ascending order and the highest 
values in the partition for columns stored in descending order. These column values 
are referred to as the partitioning key.
You specify the first value allowed in the associated partition for that column of the 
partitioning key as a literal. If there are more storage key columns than literal items, the 
first key value for each remaining key column is the lowest or highest value for the data 
type of the column (the lowest value for an ascending column and the highest value for 
a descending column).
STORE BY key 
column list
No Not applicable Key column list + SYSKEY
Yes DROPPABLE Key column list + SYSKEY.
Primary key enforced by unique 
index.
Yes NOT 
DROPPABLE
If STORE BY column list 
matches the primary key column 
list, NonStop SQL/MX uses the 
STORE BY column list.
If STORE BY column list is a 
prefix of or the same as the 
primary key column list, 
NonStop SQL/MX uses the 
primary key column list.
Other combinations are not 
supported and generate errors.
Table 6-2. Clustering Key for Indexes
Unique Nonunique
Clustering key indexedColumns indexedColumns+
ClusteringKeyOfTable
Default
partitioning key*
indexedColumns indexedColumns+
ClusteringKeyOfTable+
SYSKEY
* The columns of the default partitioning key are also the columns that are available for partitioning using the 
PARTITION BY clause
Table 6-1. Construction of the Clustering Key (page2of2)
Primary Key 
Specified
DROPPABLE 
Attribute Clustering Key










