Text Data

Question

Text Data

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

SSC Guru

Points: 734444
More actions
November 2, 2008 at 9:28 am

#63477

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Text Data

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply

Hugo Kornelis SSC Guru Points: 64780 More actions · Answer 1

Though I got the point, I don't think I liked this question very much. First, because it applies to a data type that has been on the deprecated list since 2005. And second, because the wording of the quesion is confusing, if not misleading.

A database can 1,024 in-row text data pointers in it

Assuming this was meant to read "A database can have 1,024 in-row text data pointers in it", this statement is not correct. That would really severely have limited the use of the text-in-row option. The limit is on 1,024 in-row active valid in-row text pointers per transaction per database. Massive difference.

I guess I should now try to figure out what "active valid in-row text pointers" are and why they are in a transaction, but frankly, I don't care. I have long ago made the move from text and image to varchar(MAX) and varbinary(MAX), and I prefer not to invest anymore time in an option that has long been deprecated and will probably soon be removed completely.

Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server/Data Platform MVP (2006-2016)
Visit my SQL Server blog: https://sqlserverfast.com/blog/
SQL Server Execution Plan Reference: https://sqlserverfast.com/epr/

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734444 More actions · Answer 2

Hugo,

As always, thanks for catching the mistake. I have clarified the question.

It is a deprecated feature, but there are plenty of 2000 instances out there and I wouldn't be surprised that some of the problem ones, those that have issues, are the most likely to remain on 2000 for some time. People often get nervous about moving forward.

Admittedly, this is likely a trivia type question/answer.

Hugo Kornelis SSC Guru Points: 64780 More actions · Answer 3

Steve Jones - Editor (11/3/2008)
Hugo,
As always, thanks for catching the mistake. I have clarified the question.
It is a deprecated feature, but there are plenty of 2000 instances out there and I wouldn't be surprised that some of the problem ones, those that have issues, are the most likely to remain on 2000 for some time. People often get nervous about moving forward.
Admittedly, this is likely a trivia type question/answer.

Thanks for the correction. If you now allso change "resuse" to "reuse", it's perfect. 😀

You're right about the old installations (though I'd push those folk for upgrading anyway, esp. since AFAIK SQL2000 is no longer in mainstream support). Apart from the deprecation a very good question; took me quite some time to figure out the answer.

Thanks!

Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server/Data Platform MVP (2006-2016)
Visit my SQL Server blog: https://sqlserverfast.com/blog/
SQL Server Execution Plan Reference: https://sqlserverfast.com/epr/

Adam Machanic SSCoach Points: 15370 More actions · Answer 4

Not only is the feature deprecated, but barely anyone used TEXTPTRs anyway 🙂

By the way, when I saw "text data pointer" I thought the question was talking about the 24 byte pointers used for row overflow... Of course I knew something was wrong when I saw that there was a maximum of 1024, and words like "transaction" being thrown about...

--
Adam Machanic
whoisactive