Patent ID: 7725495

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for providing primary keys for a plurality of lists of a plurality of sites maintained by a database hosting service on one or more servers, wherein data from the plurality of lists are maintained in a single master table, comprising: receiving, by the database hosting service on one or more servers, an assignment request for a primary key from a list of the plurality of lists; wherein the database hosting service maintains the single master table that comprises rows and columns; wherein the master table comprises at least one row for each of the plurality of sites; wherein each of the rows comprise a row storing a list identifier, a site identifier, and value columns; determining a site identifier for the site from which the request was received; determining a list identifier for the list from which the request was received; determining a column identifier that is to be assigned as the primary key, the column identifier including the identifier of the column in the list to be assigned as the primary key; and determining whether a combination of the determined site identifier, list identifier and column identifier exists in a primary key constraints table; in response to determining the combination of the determined site identifier, list identifier and column identifier do not exist in a primary key constraints table: storing data on the database hosting service on one or more servers, the data including: a record of the determined site identifier, list identifier and column identifier in the primary key constraints table; and a record of the value associated with the site identifier, the list identifier and the column identifier in a primary key values table.