ACC: MS Access FieldSize for Text in Table Is Variable Length

ID: Q94221

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0, 97

SUMMARY

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

Microsoft Access will set the field length of a Text field to the length of the entered text if the text entered is shorter than the maximum field size.

MORE INFORMATION

When you set the FieldSize property of a table in design mode, you are setting the maximum length for the field. If text entered into that field is shorter than the specified maximum length, then the length of that field equals the length of the text that has been entered. This means whether you design a text column as 20 characters or 255 characters, it will only take up the amount needed to store the actual data entered into that field.

The difference between specifying 20 or 255 characters is that one is limited to 20 characters on entry while the other will allow up to 255 characters.

REFERENCES

For more information about the FieldSize property , search the Help Index for "Fields, size" or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.

Additional query words:


Keywords          : kbusage GnlOthr 
Version           : WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,2.0,7.0,97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: March 14, 1999