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Database capacity used by multiline text fields/single line

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Posted on by 117

Hi

Can anyone advise me on the database capacity usage and field length / type.

We have 15m records with 2 multiline text fields containing data, each limited to 2000 characters.

Would we save space by doing either of the following:-

1) Shortening the field length to 400 chars, which is the longest data field length.  Most have about 10-20 chars used.

2) Creating new single-line text fields (limited to 400 chars), moving the data in and deleting the mulitline text fields?

Thanks!

  • Suggested answer
    Manoj Mane Profile Picture
    Manoj Mane 1,012 on at
    RE: Database capacity used by multiline text fields/single line

    Hi SSnell,
      

    The database capacity used by multiline text fields and single line text fields in Dynamics 365 depends on the maximum length of the text that can be stored in the field and the number of records that contain data in that field.

    For a multiline text field, the maximum length of the text that can be stored is 1048576 characters. For example, if you have a multiline text field in a table with 1000 records, and each record contains an 100 characters of text in field, then the total storage required for the field in the database would be approximately 1000 * 100 = 100,000 bytes.

    For a single line text field, the maximum length of the text that can be stored is 4000 characters. Similar for single line text field if you have table with 1000 records, and each record contains an average of 50 characters of text in the field, then the total storage required for the field in the database would be approximately 1000 * 50 = 50,000 bytes.

    Also Please refer the below link :- 

    Depending on the field type and that field type's settings, the amount of storage each field consumes can vary wildly


    Thanks,
    Manoj Mane.

    Please mark this as VERIFIED if it helps. image

  • Suggested answer
    PerezAguiar Profile Picture
    PerezAguiar on at
    RE: Database capacity used by multiline text fields/single line

    Hey!

    Probably reducing the fields size won't have too many impact. Instead, having the single line wth max 400 makes more sense.  You'll need to analyze how many records from those 15millon have more than 400 characters.  However, there are other things to investigate first:

    a) are those multiline field, Rich text? If his is true, then the files are not only saving the content but also the HTML tags

    b) Are those multiline fields being used to store emails? HTML code might be being stored ths way.

    c) Are those multi line fields being used as part of any search? either a particular view or dashboard, or as part of a regular search pattern? If this is true, then it means that probably it will generate indexes (which can be several and big in size)

    Regards,

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