When I need to store unlimited amounts of text, I usually create a separate table like this:
Notes ----- ID (sequential value) FK (links to a parent table) TextValue (varchar 4000) Then, break up the text into 4000-byte chunks and insert them into the table. I also store the related foreign key value to keep them "together". When I query the data back out, I retrieve all records for a particular FK value, and sort it by the ID (sequential value). This method is very portable and doesn't require changing any datatypes from one rdbms to another. It could evolve into serving multiple uses by adding another column to distinguish the "type/application" of data. M!ke -----Original Message----- From: Daniel Kessler [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 6:13 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: longer than a varchar2 I have some text that I need to keep for a database of questions. Some of this text is expected to be 5000-6000 characters. In oracle, I tried to make a varchar2(5000), but it gave me an error saying that it was too large. From searching, I've found the limit to be 4000. What now? I think that what I've read is that I need a LONG, but it wasn't clear if this was for binaries or not. If so, it seems like overkill for just 5000 chars. So, I'm looking for advice here. What type of column should I be making here? thanks. -- Daniel Kessler ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:205078 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
