How can I avoid getting this MySQL error Incorrect column specifier for column COLUMN NAME?

Question

How can I avoid getting this MySQL error Incorrect column specifier for column topic_id ?

MySQL Error...

#1063 - Incorrect column spec         


        

Answer 1

You cannot auto increment the char values. It should be int or long(integers or floating points). Try with this,

CREATE TABLE discussion_topics (
    topic_id int(5) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
    project_id char(36) NOT NULL,
    topic_subject VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
    topic_content TEXT default NULL,
    date_created DATETIME NOT NULL,
    date_last_post DATETIME NOT NULL,
    created_by_user_id char(36) NOT NULL,
    last_post_user_id char(36) NOT NULL,
    posts_count char(36) default NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY (`topic_id`)
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8 AUTO_INCREMENT=1;

Hope this helps