---
task: String items: length limit and truncation
version: R1.03
source: IM 36K10C10-01EN §3.3.4; data dictionary (`dssqld -f`); practiced on CI-Eng-Sample 2026-09-30
status: verified
---

# String items

A string item has a maximum length set when it is created (`ITEM_DF.STRING_LENGTH`).

| Rule | Value (verified) |
|---|---|
| Allowed `STRING_LENGTH` | 1–200 (default 80); 201 is rejected with `DSS-E-VAL_RANGE` |
| Audit trailing (`AUDIT_INFO`) | no effect on the limit (200 loads with audit on) |
| Characters the item holds | **length − 1** (length 100 holds 99) |
| Value that fits | stored, status 9 NORMAL |
| Value too long | cut to length − 1, status **12 OVERRANGED**, no error from `itmval` |

The manuals disagree (Engineering Module: max 100; Tutorial: 168); the installed software
allows 200 (`knowledge/issues.md` ISS-019). Multi-byte characters take more than one byte.

Quick load (the section must exist):

```
@FIELDS
NAME,DESCRIPTION,ITEM_REP,STRING_LENGTH,AUDIT_INFO

@ITEM_DF
"<Section>.<Tag>","Status text","String",120,0
```

Write and read: `itmval -p -n <Section>.<Tag> -v "text"`, `itmval -g -n <Section>.<Tag>`.
After a write, check the status: 12 means the text was cut.

The representation (type) and length cannot be changed on an existing item: remove and
load it again.