Why can't I insert more than 255 characters into a "memo" field? (Access 2003)

[betaphase]

I am new to Access and I'm having trouble with a database someone else created. I am wondring why I am not being able to insert more than 255 characters to a memo field in Access 2003.

We need a field in our database to allow us to enter a short summary of the job we are referencing. I can format the "data type" of the entry to be a "memo" which I thought should give me plenty of space to get the summary in. I can set the field to "memo" in the table, and enter the data with no problem. Then, however, when I try to open the form for this table it won't open and says "the field is too small to accept the amount of data you attempted to add. please try insterting or pasting less data."
This happens any time I try to add more than 255 characters to the field. I know that I am supposed to be able to enter up to 65,535 characters in to a memo. Is there something else I need to change to be able to do this?

[RuralGuy]

Maybe something in this link will help:
http://allenbrowne.com/ser-63.html

[Stewart Ross]

Hi BetaPhase, and Welcome to Bytes.

In addition to the suggestions provided in the link RuralGuy gave, one other potential problem is if the table invollved is in fact a linked Excel table. Excel cannot store more than 255 text characters in a cell, no matter what type the Access end says the field is.

-Stewart

[LBryant]

This is in the "when all else fails" category". Did you try deleting the text box control and creating a new one from your memo field? Also, what happens if you write the field to the immediate window? Do you see all of the text?

[LTatWaddell]

Hi BetaPhase, and Welcome to Bytes.

In addition to the suggestions provided in the link RuralGuy gave, one other potential problem is if the table invollved is in fact a linked Excel table. Excel cannot store more than 255 text characters in a cell, no matter what type the Access end says the field is.

-Stewart

Should removing the link to excel help resolving this issue? I import information from an excel spreadsheet.

[Stewart Ross]

Hi. If you can replace the Excel data by using an Access table directly you will undoubtedly resolve the memo issue. It is Excel which has the 255 character limit, not Access (whose memo fields will store 64k characters when entered into a table, and much more than this when filled via VBA code).

-Stewart