Subject Re: Design Table w/memo field From Ken Mayer <dbase@nospam.goldenstag.net> Date Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:03:31 -0700 Newsgroups dbase.getting-started On 9/24/2020 11:00 AM, edward racht wrote: > When designing a table - what guide does a programmer use to determine > when to select the field "memo" vs "character" for the table? > > the default for memo is 10 > character can be up to the dBASE limit. > > lets say the table has 20 fields numeric and character > > Half of the character fields are more than 20 characters up to 170. > the 10 numeric fields are less than 15 characters. You would use memos for data that needs more than 254 characters, which is the maximum size of an entryfield. When you use a memo you are creating a .DBT file which has the same filename as the table, and is linked through the header of the .DBF file. These are used for large quantities of data ... The fakeout is the size of 10, which is really a pointer to the .DBT file. If you don't need memos, don't use 'em. Use characters of 170 if that is what you need. Ken -- *Ken Mayer* Ken's dBASE Page: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase The dUFLP: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/index.htm#duflp dBASE Books: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/Books/dBASEBooks.htm dBASE Tutorial: http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/Tutorial/00_Preface.htm