INFO: SQL Row Size Limited to 1962 Characters

• Microsoft SQL Server versions 4.2x, 6.0, 6.5

SUMMARY

A single row of data in a table is limited to 1962 characters. This limits the size of the fixed-length data when creating a table. For example, if you wanted 12 "columns" of 255 characters = 3060, this would not be allowed. However, you can create a table with 12 "columns" of varchar 255. The row-size limit is still enforced; however, you can have any combination of field lengths of actual data, as long as the sum is not more than 1962 characters. For example, with 12 fields of varchar 255, if every field only has 100 characters of actual data, for a total of 1200 characters, this is still under the 1962-character limit and should be allowed.

There are additional considerations when dealing with varchar or char when using null characters.

Additional query words: Optimization and tuning

Keywords : kbSQLServ kbSQLServ600 kbSQLServ650 kbDSupport kbinfo
Version : winnt:4.2x,6.0,6.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo