Length of table/column names

Posted in 1998

Alex Molochnikov — Sun, 8 Nov 1998 17:34:52 -0700 — source: Informix-list mailing list archive (1991-1998)

The Informix manual states that the maximum length of table and column identifiers is 18 characters (apparently, this includes the NULL terminator as well). Other databases (Sybase, MS SQL Server, Oracle) allow up to 30 characters. Is the limit of 18 chars a rock-solid barrier, or is there some way (server settings, environment variables etc.) to extend it? It is such a straightjacket to cut everything down to 18 chars when the same app must connect to Sybase and other databases that are more liberal in their constraints. We are using INFORMIX-OnLine Dynamic Server for Windows NT 4.00, Version 7.20.TE1. TIA Alex Molochnikov alex@gestalt.com