When exporting text field the text is truncated to a few words, how do I get the full text to export to dbf file? Help just mentions a "export format" issue but does not explain it.

What format are you using for your export?

The DBF format has a maximum of 254 characters per field.

Why were there be such a limitation on a field in export when fields are designed to handle much larger content. These seems like a series deficiency for FMP. ANy other databases not have such a limitation?

AFAIK, the limitation is in the DBF format itself, and FMP merely conforms to that.

Approach had the same DBF limitation. When entering text into their fields, one had to decide the length of text the field would ultimately contain and if over 254, use a comment file type instead.

Comment files bloated the system and were highly discouraged so we were always playing a balancing act. And if the index trashed, comments would be lost because they were no longer associated - nothing could retrieve them. Each part - DBF, DBT, ADX (I think) was a separate file.

I spent 5 years having LOTS of fun when using it.