Hi -

Altho I've used various databases for many years, I'm new to Filemaker (and the mac). I spent last week learning and loving it, but I have a basic question.

In prior applications, I had an option for text or memo fields. If I remember correctly, text fields were limited to 256 characters in length (or somethign like that)

If I had a field that would usually have no contents, but might have some or a lot, I'd create a memo field - so that the size of my database would not get 'bloated' with a field that was set to 250, and was usually empty - because my understanding was that the file 'grew' to be able to hold the data - regardless of whether or not the field actually had any data in it.

As I understand it, Filemaker doesn't have memo fields. It does have container fields, but that's totally different.

If I create a text field, and specify the length at 500 characters, or 1000, or whatever, will my file get bloated from the potential of using that space? Or will the file only grow based on actual usage?

Thank you -

Hello mtpaper,

Welcome to the forums,

Setting a limit for data entry on a field will not increase the file size. The limit is evaluated when the user exits the field, until then it is treated in any other field. 0k if no data is entered.

best

Stuart

Thank you Stuart -

I'm sure I'll be back with lots more questions -

me again -

I was trying to explain your answer to my husband, and realized I had more questions -

- If I set a field to 500 characters, and add a 75 character comment, is the database storing 500 characters or 75?

- If I set a field to 500 characters, add a 75 character comment, and then delete the comment (not the record, just the contents of that field), will the database still think I have content in that field?

I like to exercise streamlined databases, but my husband and I may be 'old school' on this....

FileMaker's fields are not fixed length so you don't have to define a maximum size or set the number of characters in the field -- in fact you cannot set the field size. (You can set set the field to validate a maximum number of characters, say for a zip code or something, but that's not the same). You don't have to worry about wasting disk space because FMP only stores the actual data that's entered.

FileMaker 9.0's text fields can contain 2 GB of data, a table can contain millions of records and a single database file can be up to 4,000 GB in size. Don't worry about streamlining data. ;)

Thanks for clarifying -

That was my understanding when I was learning the program last week... unfortunately, my husband keeps telling me that I must be wrong!

I think I'll do my own thing with my database, and he can keep struggling with his....