title: How can I avoid getting this MySQL error Incorrect column specifier for column COLUMN NAME?
body: <p>How can I avoid getting this MySQL error <strong>Incorrect column specifier for column topic_id</strong> ?</p>
  
  <p>MySQL Error...  </p>
  
  <pre><code>#1063 - Incorrect column specifier for column 'topic_id'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>SQL Schema...</p>
  
  <pre><code>CREATE TABLE discussion_topics (
      topic_id char(36) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
      project_id char(36) NOT NULL,
      topic_subject VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
      topic_content TEXT default NULL,
      date_created DATETIME NOT NULL,
      date_last_post DATETIME NOT NULL,
      created_by_user_id char(36) NOT NULL,
      last_post_user_id char(36) NOT NULL,
      posts_count char(36) default NULL,
      PRIMARY KEY (topic_id)
  ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8 AUTO_INCREMENT=1;
  </code></pre>