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Does anyone know the reasoning behind the fact that the data type/size of the "country" field in all Dynamics GP tables is char(61) and many of those same tables have the CCode char(7) which corresponds to the country BUT the setup table for Country Codes [CCode] , VAT10001, has the "CCodeDesc" as a data type/size of char(31) ? In our system the Country Code Description is simply the name of the country. Thank you for any insight.
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Thank you for your reply. I discovered the length difference while verifying data types of data we use in Dynamics GP and in other systems. As much as possible when designing new databases/tables if the data is similar to GP data I try to make sure the data types are the same. It helps our developers and query writers when the field names and data types are the same. Normally we default to whatever GP uses [with the hope that there was a valid reason for the choice of data type]. I would have thought that MS would have used the same. Either they expect that there are/will be countries with names longer than 31 characters .... or they don't. Logically most companies would not put anything other than the name of the country in the "COUNTRY" field. It is a char(61) not even a varchar(61). It's little details like this that can frustrate DBAs, developers and report designers. There is a "significant" difference between char(31) and char(61) when it comes to designing forms, reports and integrating systems.
Oh well, not a big deal ... just a tiny detail.
Thanks again for your response.
When you choose a Country Code on a customer, vendor, or other record, the VAT10001 country code description defaults as the "Country" value. Then, the user can override it if necessary. Interesting catch about the length being different. I would assume that's a Microsoft oversight, unless they just wanted to provide for more manual manipulation flexiblity on the Country field, rather than in the CCodeDesc field, which in effect is the default value for Country fields.
Hope this helps!
Ron Draganowski
Manager, Technology Services
RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota
ron.draganowski@mcgladrey.com
http://mcgladrey.com/Technology-Services/ERP-and-CRM
Find me on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rondraganowski
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