Maximum length

[Razumovsky]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone knows the maximum length of a value list. Cant seem to find it in the manual.

-Raz

[kenneth2k1]

There was a question similar to this recently. I couldn't find an answer in the manual either. But I have been known to miss things.

My answer to the other person was that it probably is limited to the amount of characters allowed in a field, which is like 64k. But i don't know for sure.

Ken

[Razumovsky]

Yes, I read your reply. I would think the same, but was looking for confirmation.

Specifically, If I have a value list based off a single text field in a single record, will it always be valid as long as the data in the text field is? Interested in applications/limitations of ValueListItems function.

-Raz

[-Queue-]

I just tested this. For records with an 8 digit serial number, after the 7,111st record, Set Field [test, ValueListItems( Status(CurrentFileName), "test" )] no longer populated. It failed without any warning. And a field calculated as the ValueListItems caused FileMaker to quit responding. 9 (serial number plus

[kenneth2k1]

Nice of you to test this.

It is a good thing to be aware of, although I would probably go blind if I had to select from a list of 7000 items. I would probably try a different structure. But that's just me...

[Razumovsky]

Thanks, good to know.

See, I knew you had some time on your hands as well...

-Raz

[-Queue-]

Yeah, it was called 'lunch'.

I only crashed FM 3 times in the process too. That's a dangerous test.

Agreed that 7,000 items is a bit much, but that's where the 'type-ahead' functionality of lists can be very useful.

[Razumovsky]

Hi Ken,

ValuelistItems has come in handy for me in some unusual places recently, not relating to actually viewing value lists (for example, see my post at the end of this thread ). After I posted this, I realized that I did not know if it would breakdown when dealing with extremely long text fields. Thanks to Q's lunchtime shennanigans, it seems that there is no worry about that instance, but other potential pitfalls.

I do agree though, a conventionally used value list of around 7000 would send me back to the drawing board.

Cheers,

Raz