Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
Progress Dynamics Basic Development

Naming length limits

There are no strict limits beyond the normal Progress limits on lengths of table names and field names in Dynamics. But if you observe some sensible conventions, it is easier to use your database within a standard framework. For example, the tools that display these entity or field names expect a reasonable maximum length and provide an appropriate display format. A good limit for table names and field names is 32 characters.

The "Using ERwin with Progress Dynamics" section later in this chapter gives a brief look at the ERwin modeling tool template that you can use to generate a new database schema. That template includes many domain definitions for particular types of fields. These field type definitions include data type, format, and other standard characteristics. When you categorize your database fields in this way, you avoid having fields with no consistent pattern of sizes and formats. Instead, you have a manageable number of discrete subtypes that are used for different purposes. This allows utilities that autogenerate parts of your application, such as application screens, to work more easily and effectively.

Table 2–2 provides a few sample guidelines based on standards from the ERwin template.

Table 2–2: ERwin naming length limits  

Type of text	Maximum number of characters
Codes (abbreviations that might not be very meaningful to users but that uniquely identify an object in a compact way).	10
Short descriptions of the type that could be displayed next to a coded value (in a lookup for example) to make it more intelligible.	35
Names.	32
Editor for small text blocks.	500
Editor for large text.	3000