mysql auto-incrementing index fields

[jeffj]

Recently I added some records to a table, then deleted those records.

they had key values 1 through 5 (assigned by mysql)

After deleting them and adding more more records, the index field key values started at 6.

I wanted them to start at 1 since I will be converting data into the table before going live and my key values are already assigned in the data I'll be importing.

do I have to drop and re-create the table for mysql to start assigning key values at 1 again?

how is this controlled/tracked by mysql???

thanks in advance.

- jeff