Hi there, "PostgreSQL 9.1.2, compiled by Visual C++ build 1500, 64-bit" catalog version : PG_9.1_201105231 --> the table : CREATE TABLE T_TEST_TAILLE (TTT_ID SERIAL NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY, TTT_DATAFIX CHAR(16), TTT_DATAVAR VARCHAR(16), TTT_DATAVARBIG VARCHAR(6000)); --> the inserts : INSERT INTO T_TEST_TAILLE (TTT_DATAFIX, TTT_DATAVAR, TTT_DATAVARBIG) SELECT NULL, NULL, NULL UNION ALL SELECT '', '', '' UNION ALL SELECT '12345678', '12345678', REPEAT('*', 3000) UNION ALL SELECT '1234567890123456', '1234567890123456', REPEAT('*', 6000) --> the query SELECT *, pg_column_size(TTT_DATAFIX), char_length(TTT_DATAFIX), octet_length(TTT_DATAFIX), pg_column_size(TTT_DATAVAR), char_length(TTT_DATAVAR), octet_length(TTT_DATAFIX), pg_column_size(TTT_DATAVARBIG), char_length(TTT_DATAVARBIG), octet_length(TTT_DATAFIX) FROM T_TEST_TAILLE; !!! PROBLEM !!! --> at this time the 4th row show nothing in ttt_datavarbig column... it is supposed to retrive the long '********************* ... ' 6000 characters ! What happened ? --> now, with this insert : WITH RECURSIVE S AS (SELECT generate_series AS I FROM generate_series(1, 6000)), T AS (SELECT I, chr(20 + CAST(ceiling(random()*236) AS SMALLINT)) AS C FROM S), R AS (SELECT CAST(C AS VARCHAR(6000)) AS CC, C, I FROM T WHERE I = 1 UNION ALL SELECT CAST(CC || T.C AS VARCHAR(6000)),T.C, T.I FROM T INNER JOIN R ON T.I = R.I + 1) INSERT INTO T_TEST_TAILLE (TTT_DATAVARBIG) SELECT CC FROM R WHERE I = 6000; One row appear with somtehing like : "YÓ³Ó¡Àÿ-ÅĀöÕñù:ëͧ-ÁbܺúJÆ+÷+~ð ... 6000 characters... ok ! thanks -- Frédéric BROUARD - expert SGBDR et SQL - MVP SQL Server - 06 11 86 40 66 Le site sur le langage SQL et les SGBDR : http://sqlpro.developpez.com Enseignant Arts & Métiers PACA, ISEN Toulon et CESI/EXIA Aix en Provence Audit, conseil, expertise, formation, modélisation, tuning, optimisation *********************** http://www.sqlspot.com ************************* -- Sent via pgsql-general mailing list (pgsql-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-general