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RichardSteele
Posting Yak Master
160 Posts |
 Posted - 2005-03-10 : 18:38:42
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| We need to store texts of variable lengths in text fields and would like to understand the differences between ntext and text data types.We may have some foreign data stored in those fields. I know that ntext fields take unicode characters. What foreign characters will text fields take? Thanks in advance. |
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robvolk
Most Valuable Yak
15732 Posts |
Posted - 2005-03-10 : 20:08:34
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| Whatever is in the standard character set for your database's collation/code page. |
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TG
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
6065 Posts |
Posted - 2005-03-10 : 20:14:26
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| Be sure you also understand the ramifications of maintaining text/ntext data. If you don't store more than 8000 characters (4000 for Unicode), varchar/nvarchar is much easier to work with.Be One with the OptimizerTG |
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RichardSteele
Posting Yak Master
160 Posts |
Posted - 2005-03-10 : 20:20:49
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| Thanks. Where do I find that? Can I see the actual characters? |
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robvolk
Most Valuable Yak
15732 Posts |
Posted - 2005-03-10 : 20:25:37
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| declare @c tinyintset @c=1while @c<255 begin print char(@c) set @c=@c+1 end |
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RichardSteele
Posting Yak Master
160 Posts |
Posted - 2005-03-10 : 20:51:19
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| Thanks. So, just to be clear, only the basic 255 ascii characters can be stored in text fields? Thanks. |
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Kristen
Test
22859 Posts |
Posted - 2005-03-11 : 00:34:37
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| "basic 255 ascii characters"Except that that depends on your collation - so what you get, mostly in the top 128 characters, may very well do you - and save you half of your memory and disk space in the process! (ntext/nvarchar uses twice as much as text/varchar, but I'm sure you know that)Kristen |
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ntext vs text data types