Storage Space

[Maldrid]

Storage Space [Resolved]

When you set up a field as text it also allows you to setup field size. If you set the field up to 20 characters opposed to the default of 50, does that mean that it takes up less hard drive space or it is just a way to control how many character a user can put in?

 

[Rich]

Unless you're talking thousands and thousands of records I doubt it would make much difference

 

[Maldrid]

Well that is why I am asking, because I am talking about thousands and thousands of records. I have a field called "User Name" in each of my tables. This way we can keep track of who entered or last modified a certain record. In some of my tables I will only have a few hundred records, but in others I will have thousands. So that is why I am asking.

I am guessing with your response that it does take up less storage?

 

[Dwight]

According to Pat:
Text fields occupy the number of bytes specified by their length.

So yes, you could save space by limiting the records to 20 from 50.

 

[mission2java_78]

According to Pat:
Text fields occupy the number of bytes specified by their length.

So yes, you could save space by limiting the records to 20 from 50.

Careful you dont go too low...else you'll be getting phone calls of people saying there isn't enough room to enter their first name!

Access does not have support for dynamic character storage such as SQL Server's varchar, which only uses what you use. So if you define 50 in access you're going to be using 50 per record.

 

[Maldrid]

Wow I didn't get the email that someone replied to this post til today. Thanks for the information!!