Title: Using a Custom Identifier Value
Last modified: July 5, 2021

---

# Using a Custom Identifier Value

 *  Resolved [macwinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macwinson/)
 * (@macwinson)
 * [4 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-a-custom-identifier-value/)
 * Hi Roland,
 * I’m testing the plugin of the tutorial **“Using a Custom Identifier Value for
   Participants Database Records”**, described here:
 * [https://xnau.com/using-a-custom-identifier-value-for-participants-database-records/](https://xnau.com/using-a-custom-identifier-value-for-participants-database-records/)
 * The plugin works fine for all the imported custom IDs. For a “static” database
   that will no longer need updates, are OK. But when you create a New Record, you
   must enter each custom ID manually (the custom ID are not created by default 
   as the standard ID of Participants Database), and you won’t be able to access
   that record (the single record link will result on “No record was found” message.)
   
   There is any chance to modify this custom plugin to automatically add incremental
   new custom IDs? Or is as simple as changing the custom ID field as an “AUTO_INCREMENT”
   field in phpmyadmin? That will do the trick?
 * Thanks for the tutorial and plugin!! It looks very useful and promising!
 * Best regards,

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Roland Barker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [4 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-a-custom-identifier-value/#post-14632806)
 * The code in that tutorial is meant as a starting point for your own custom plugin
   that configures the plugin to use your own record ID scheme. It assumes that 
   you have a database with your record IDs already set.
 * To automate the process of adding IDs using your own scheme, you’ll need to add
   code that inserts the ID when a record is created. You can’t achieve this by 
   altering the database column because the query that creates the new record is
   not set up to work with an additional AUTO_INCREMENT column.
 * In the [plugin API](https://xnau.com/work/wordpress-plugins/participants-database/participants-database-documentation/participants-database-api/),
   there are two filters you can use to automate the process of adding an ID to 
   a new record, the filters you would use are _pdb-before\_submit\_add_ for new
   records added in the admin, and _pdb-before\_submit\_signup_ for new records 
   added on the frontend.
    -  This reply was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by [Roland Barker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/).
      Reason: added link
 *  Thread Starter [macwinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macwinson/)
 * (@macwinson)
 * [4 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-a-custom-identifier-value/#post-14702543)
 * Hi Roland, sorry for the delay.
    OK, noted that. I will keep in mind the use 
   of those filters. Many thanks for your kind response as usual !!!
 * Best regards,

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘Using a Custom Identifier Value’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/participants-database/assets/icon-256x256.jpg?rev=1389807)
 * [Participants Database](https://wordpress.org/plugins/participants-database/)
 * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/participants-database/#faq)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/participants-database/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/participants-database/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/participants-database/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/participants-database/reviews/)

 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [macwinson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macwinson/)
 * Last activity: [4 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-a-custom-identifier-value/#post-14702543)
 * Status: resolved