Getting VarChar sizes using vb.net

Hi,

I can't seem to find a way of getting the varchar sizes set in MS SQL tables using VB.NET


I've tried using...

Table.Columns(0).MaxLength

But always get -1 regardless of what datatype the column is.

I need this figure to prevent users from trying to enter to much data into a varchar field.

Any ideas



Simon

 

Hi Bruce,





Posting the whole code would be complicated as I'm using functions to get a working


System.Data.DataTable
from this I'm picking up on the columns in the table using




Dim Col As System.Data.DataColumn


dim s as integer
for each Col in Table.Columns
s = col.maxlength
next

I always get -1 back. In the end I used a function to query the database...




Dim sql As String = "SELECT CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS "


sql += "WHERE TABLE_NAME = '" & Tablename & "' AND COLUMN_NAME = '" & ColumnName & "'"


It would be simpler using col.maxlength tho.


I was using sqlclient classes to get the table.





Simon