[python-sybase] varchar(350) data getting truncated to 255 characters (final resolution)

[Python]

On Sat, 2006-09-23 at 09:50 -0400, Python wrote:
> On Fri, 2006-09-22 at 16:02 -0400, Python wrote:
> > I am running Linux (Fedora 3) with
> > 	sybase 0.37
> > 	freetds 0.63
> > to collect data from a remote Microsoft SQL server.  There is at least
> > one field that is truncated to 255 characters as I read it:
> > 	(curs.fetchone())
> > 
> > The curs.description shows:
> > 	('Features', 1, 0, 255, 0, 0, 1)
> > 	('Remarks', 1, 0, 255, 0, 0, 1)
> > 
> > However, those fields are actually defined as varchar(350).
> > 
> > Is this a limitation in the modules?  Am I doing something wrong?
> 
> I tracked down the issue to freetds.  It limits varchar fields to 255
> chars.  The freetds site recommends converting or casting the fields to
> text.
> 
> http://www.freetds.org/userguide/troubleshooting.htm#KNOWNISSUES
> has the details.
> 
> > Should I be using a different set of modules to connect a Python program
> > to a remote Microsoft SQL server?

By configuring a server into the /etc/freetds.conf file, I was able to
specify a different protocol version and the varchar sizes are now
reported properly.  In summary, I did not use the CAST(column AS TEXT)
advice, but instead added a server definition to the freetds.conf file
using the following as a model.

# A typical Microsoft SQL Server 2000 configuration
;[MyServer2k]
;       host = ntmachine.domain.com
;       port = 1433
;       tds version = 8.0


-- 
Lloyd Kvam
Venix Corp