<p>MySQL raises error 1503 when you create a UNIQUE or PRIMARY key on a partitioned table without including every partitioning column.</p>
<p>MySQL Error 1503 ER_UNIQUE_KEY_NEED_ALL_FIELDS_IN_PF occurs when a unique or primary key omits one or more partition columns. Add all partitioning columns to the key or adjust the partition scheme to resolve the error.</p>
A %s must include all columns in the table's partitioning
Error 1503 ER_UNIQUE_KEY_NEED_ALL_FIELDS_IN_PF signals that a UNIQUE or PRIMARY key on a partitioned table fails to cover every column used in the partition definition.
The server checks key definitions during CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, or ADD INDEX. If any unique constraint misses a partition column, execution stops with Error 1503.
Partition pruning relies on deterministic mapping from key values to partitions. Missing columns would allow duplicate values to land in separate partitions, breaking uniqueness guarantees.
Leaving the mistake unfixed blocks DDL, halts deployments, and prevents reliable query plans. Production incidents and data inconsistency risks follow.
The rule applies to MySQL 5.1 through 8.0. Newer versions add JSON and functional indexes, yet the requirement remains unchanged for partitioned tables.
Developers often add a business-level unique key without realizing the table is partitioned on another column, triggering Error 1503.
A legacy primary key may predate partitioning. After ALTER TABLE ... PARTITION BY, the existing key suddenly violates the rule.
MySQL checks referenced unique keys. If the parent table key lacks partition columns, creating a child foreign key surfaces the same error.
Appears when dropping an index referenced by a foreign key.
Triggered when adding a primary key where one already exists.
A generic foreign key creation failure, sometimes masking Error 1503 inside.
No. The check is hard-coded in the optimizer and cannot be disabled with sql_mode.
No. Even in 8.0, every unique or primary key on a partitioned table must list all partition columns.
Galaxy's AI copilot inspects the partition clause and warns when you define a key without all partition columns, stopping the error before execution.
Keys become wider, but covering queries can benefit. Monitor index size and adjust partitioning strategy if necessary.
.avif)
.avif){kind=logo}
