> > The problem here is that tables B, C etc... do not have a primary Key.
>
> In your case, PatID IS the PK
>

Yes ! This is exactly what I meant, sorry for having not been clear
enough


> see ALTER TABLE statement in:http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/...ey-constraints...
> (does not appear to work on MyISAM tables just yet:

Thank you for the advice, I will study the command
>

> Antagonist/protagonist will be whatever application you choose on the
> appropriate platform. *If they both reside on Windows (yuck)... then it
> really does not matter as it will be a Windows app that would either
> push or pull the data -

Yes, both the programs (FM and MySQL) should be on Windows,
initially,
but what if I bring mySQL on Linux ?

>
> If you change or add PK information are you going to use the database or
> the application to assign the new PK column?

Filemaker will assign the new PatID to the new Patient inserted in the
DB,
MySQL should simply update the column and all the data consequently.
I understand that, having both the programs on the same platform, does
not matter who is pulling and who is pushing the data...but might you
show the basics of an ODBC connection starting from MySQL
perspective ?


> One of the big picture things you have worry about is HIPPA - depending
> of course on where you are located in the world - Mayo Clinic, Italy
> etc... *Having previously worked at several companies that dealt with
> clinical data, the REQUIREMENT for the security of that data is
> extremely high. *Please hire outside help to ensure the security of this
> data before we read/hear about it in the mainstream media. *Given just a
> bit of time, that stuff could be hacked relatively easily

Weirdly enough, I am an italian physician working temporarily
at the Mayo Clinic : )
I agree with you, security is critical here, and maybe I will be able
to hire someone
that will take care of that aspect, but first I would like to define
all the other things, focusing
on the structure and the relationship between the two versions of the
DB
by myself, to avoid problems in future.