Oracle Forms Developer – Form Builder Reference, Volume 1

Maximum Length property
Description
Specifies the maximum length of the data value that can be stored in the item.
Applies to all items except buttons, image items, and chart items
Set Form Builder
Refer to Built-in
GET_ITEM_PROPERTY
Default
• For a database item, the length of the corresponding column in the database table. Note: If the item’s
data type is NUMBER, the maximum length will be set to the defined column length plus two, to
allow for the possible use of a minus sign (for negative values) and a decimal separator.
• For a control item, 30.
• For a LONG item, 240 bytes.
Required/Optional required
Usage Notes
• At runtime, Forms will increase the value of the Maximum Length property if the item’s format
mask requires a longer length. (The format mask may be either an explicit mask specified by the
form’s designer for this item, or one of the implicit masks used by Forms in its internal conversion
operations.)
• For CHAR values, the Maximum Length is 2000 characters.
Note: Bear these considerations in mind if you are writing applications for a multi-byte character set:
• Form Builder allows end users to enter the full number of single-byte characters, up to the
Maximum Length specified.
• If the end user enters a combination of single-byte and multi-byte characters that produce a string
whose total length in bytes exceeds the item's Maximum Length, the string will be truncated to the
nearest whole character and a warning will be displayed. To avoid this situation, consider raising
the Maximum Length for the item. (If Maximum Length exceeds the display width of the item,
Form Builder will automatically allow the end user to scroll the contents of the item.)
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