Silly me, it seems that the auto_increment doesn't preclude me from doing this: INSERT INTO Template(uid, side, pro, fid) VALUES (100, 1, 37, 2); INSERT INTO Template(uid, side, pro, fid, par) VALUES (101, 2, 37, 2, 3), (102, 2, 37, 2, 3), (103, 2, 37, 2, 3); which answers my own question. Sorry for the spam. - Ken