Also, you could use "select MAX(ID) from TABLE", add one to this value, and manually increment like that.

Of course, you'll only do this with a table lock won't you? (assuming you don't have transactions (MySQL etc), or have AUTO_COMMIT on).

Otherwise imagine two INSERTs happening simultaneously ... someone else could quite happily come along and INSERT something else in between *your* SELECT and INSERT... leaving you with quite a nasty race condition.

Tony