siva@bally.Bally.COM (Siva Chelliah) (06/28/91)
Hi, How would you implement variable length text in database applications ? What comes to my mind is the following : A memo file (call it memo.txt) will have the following structure: --------------------------------------------------------------------- |#of bytes| .. bytes .. | link | # of bytes | .. bytes .. | link | ... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |_______________________________| one record if link == -1 then no more text. The data file will have the following structure : struct { field1; field2; ... fieldn; long memo; /* offset into the memo file which will have the text */ } something; Just wondering if there is any better way. Problem with this method is that if you delete and add text , the disk space will be wasted. Thanks Siva -- /=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=\ | Siva@bally.bally.com | He who asks is a fool for five minuites,| | Bally Systems, | but he who does not ask remains a fool | | Reno, NV 89502 | forever -Old Chinese saying |