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

There ya go, throwing fuel on the fire! <evilgrin>

Actually, it's kind of a battle over 'bad practice' again.  JC and I have
both been burned (In my case several times, within just the past few months)
by a previous developer setting some arbitrary field size limit.  However,
the only issue we have heard so far with setting it to 255 was Charlotte had
a Query too complex error, which is intriguing, to say the least.  But I
haven't heard other incidents like that, so it may have been an isolated
incident.

However, unlike issues like bound/unbound, pk's, and the more recent lookup
fields, this is an issue which directly affects a users ability to enter
data, into a DATAbase.  This isn't theory, or ease of use, or handy tools,
it's a control that actually limits the entire purpose of a database.  

Oh well, just another issue to debate I guess.  LOL.

Drew

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Susan Harkins
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 6:59 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: RE: [AccessD] On DB Bloat, Bad DB Design, and various


If I may... 

What makes either of you think that the other isn't correct in his own
right? This is an issue that simply doesn't have a right or wrong. 

Yes, years ago, field length was an issue because of memory -- it no longer
is. No one cares about that anymore unless they're working with a
tremendously large amount of data -- and then, they're probably not using
Access. 

On the other hand, JC, it is perfectly acceptable to use field size to limit
values. You may not do it, but it is perfectly acceptable. I could take your
logic another step and say why bother with data types? I can make the data
anything I want using the right conversion function and code, so why bother?
Access trainers still teach people that they CAN limit the field's size.
It's there, you can use it or not use it. There's nothing wrong with doing
so. 

You're both right -- and you should both use the tools you have the best you
can. Period. 

Susan H.