String data type limit

[garybug]

Am I correct in thinking that the String data type will only hold 255 characters? I've found this as I'm trying to build a large WHERE clause in VBA, which will then serve as the Rowsource for a Listbox. According to the Access Help, it can hold up to 2 billion charcters, but web page

http://www.databasezone.com/techdocs/acclimit.html

it is only 255. Some clarification would be helpful!!

Ta

Gary

 

[WildHare]

A text (string) field in a table can hold only up to 255 characters, but a variable length string variable can hold up to 2 billion...

As long as you don't declare your string with a fixed length (which can still hold about 64K) you should be fine...



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"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard P. Feynman

 

[garybug]

Hi Hare

Thanks, but this string is not populating a control, it's purely holding a SQL WHERE clause in VBA, which is then assigned to a LISTBOX Rowsorce rpoperty, then the listbox is requeried.

 

[WildHare]

Then it may be a limitation on the size of a Listbox Rowsource variable...

Could you try assigning your big string to a querydef object, and then using that querydef object as the rowsource?



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"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard P. Feynman

 

[garybug]

My fault... But it does raise another question!

It turns out it wasn't the string, but the Collection I was using to hold the results of my search - as it will only hold 254 items(!). I'm going to look into a variable sized array or something.

Thanks for replying though..

G