[AccessD] On DB Bloat, Bad DB Design, and various

Francisco, first of all, I am honestly not sure how SQL server deals with
character fields and their 'lengths'.  In Access, setting a field to a 255
width does not make the storage space requirement any larger then if it is
set to 50, unless someone types 51 or more characters.  Does SQL Server take
up the 'empty' space regardless?  Again, I'm not sure.

My analogy to a gas tank was not off, you just didn't make the connection I
was trying to make.  The size of the gas tank is the maximum length of a
text field, or 255.  That is what JET has designated as a test field max.
The amount of gas you put in, is the limit YOU assign to the field.  Does it
make sense to not give them a full tank of gas?  Putting a larger gas tank
in, is like going to SQL Server.  If it's necessary, then do it.  If it's
not, then don't.

Drew

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