How can I manually set Page ID?

I deleted a page, but I still want to use that Page ID. When I create a new page it automatically uses the next page ID. How can I manually set the Page ID of the new page? Can I edit existing Page IDs?

The page IDs are the autoincrement values when inserting a new document into the database. You should edit them only if you are really confident in working directly with the database.

Which tables reference the Page ID?

Well, that’s why it’s usually not a good idea to mess around with those, because TVs are tied in with them. I’m not sure what else.

Ok, I understand it’s tricky.....does anyone have any actual information?

Actually, the changing of the id itself is not that hard. A simple query to the Database will do:


Since modx does not use foreign keys for tables (compatibility reasons i guess), the changing of the ID will – as sottwell pointed out – have a lot of consequences. To really change the id in a clean manner, you’ll have to change all other DB entries that are linked to this id as well. This starts with the "parent" field inside the modx_site_content Table and extends to a lot of other tables (modx_site_metatags, modx_document_groups, the document groups and access permissions and so on).

Changing this single id could become quite a cumbersome task. I’d rather fix this by redirect the old id to the new one with a .htaccess Rewrite Rule or something similar.

I understand that you’ll need to change it in the other DB tables as well. I was hoping someone had a list of which tables use it. Oh well, guess I’ll just go through all the tables and find out myself.

Then maybe you could post your findings in the Wiki under Tips

Quote from: ganeshXL at Dec 05, 2007, 10:28 AM

UPDATE `modx_site_content` SET id=(old id) WHERE id=(new id)

Actually, it’s the other way around:

UPDATE `modx_site_content` SET id=(new id) WHERE id=(old id)

Umm, no. He wants his OLD id back, thus he wants to replace the new id with the old one.
But yes.. this could cause confusion. It should say