Kinder garden question about datatype

Hi all,

Suppose I know that the maximum length for my customerID field will not be more than 10 characters (95% of times this will be numeric digits like 1000127, while 5% of the times this may be alphanumeric like 1001MT56).

Given this scenario should I use char(10) as the datatype for my customerID field or should I use varchar(10)?
Can you please share your advise from a performance aspect.
BOL has a lot of information but I could not the exact answer to this "kiddy" questions and thus ended up posting this question here.the percentage of numeric/non-numeric doesn't really matter, what's important is the percentage of fully 10 bytes to less than 10 bytes

since 100% of your examples (yeah, i know you gave only two) were less than 10 bytes, i would say use VARCHAR(10)

performance difference should be too small to measure, but your file size will be less with VARCHAR|||About the only times I use CHAR these days is for SSNs, Zip codes, State abbreviations, and occasionally boolean Y/N.|||what size CHAR for zips? will it hold both 5-digit and 9-digit zips?|||I usually use separate 5 and 4 byte columns for the two ZIP components.|||I usually use separate 5 and 4 byte columns for the two ZIP components.How do you deal with postal codes for non-United States addresses?

-PatP|||How do you deal with postal codes for non-United States addresses?most likely he rejects them as not valid|||It is my patriotic duty to impose my belief in nine-digit zip codes upon the rest of the world and liberate them from their godless postal-code systems.

Unless they are an economic trading partner, in which case I just use varchar(20).|||It is my patriotic duty to impose my belief in nine-digit zip codes upon the rest of the world and liberate them from their godless postal-code systems.

Unless they are an economic trading partner, in which case I just use varchar(20).

I like that :D humor when it's most needed!

Or you could quote our moron-in-chief as he says "I am the decider.." and do what ever you want without fear of any consequences .. I bet he added "bite me!" but no one heard it :) oops! .. that's too much politics isn't it? :)

On a lighter note, one of the reasons I am hooked to this forum is the priceless sense of humor that Rudy and the Blind dude have :)

Cheers!|||oops! .. that's too much politics isn't it? :)

don't worry. the other group of talentless corrupt minions of corporate america will be back in power soon.

On a lighter note, one of the reasons I am hooked to this forum is the priceless sense of humor that Rudy and the Blind dude have .

they are just masking their pain.|||don't worry. the other group of talentless corrupt minions of corporate america will be back in power soon.Oh yes, but the problem is which one? There are SO many to choose from!

-PatP|||I assumed he was talking about the Libertarian party...sql

keep 2000 with 2005 install?

hi,
I had sql server 2000 on my machine and recently installed 2005, it
removed the 2000 tools that I had, I know 2005 is suppose to be an
improvement of 2000, but I wanted to keep using my 2000 tools until I
get use to everything in 2005, is there anyway for me to get the 2000
tools back?
Thank you.You must have done an upgrade?!
You could try to reinstall sql2k but only select "Client Tools" option.
-oj
"phil2phil" <philtwophil@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1149628854.682532.227770@.u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
> hi,
> I had sql server 2000 on my machine and recently installed 2005, it
> removed the 2000 tools that I had, I know 2005 is suppose to be an
> improvement of 2000, but I wanted to keep using my 2000 tools until I
> get use to everything in 2005, is there anyway for me to get the 2000
> tools back?
> Thank you.
>

keep 2000 with 2005 install?

hi,
I had sql server 2000 on my machine and recently installed 2005, it
removed the 2000 tools that I had, I know 2005 is suppose to be an
improvement of 2000, but I wanted to keep using my 2000 tools until I
get use to everything in 2005, is there anyway for me to get the 2000
tools back?
Thank you.You must have done an upgrade?!
You could try to reinstall sql2k but only select "Client Tools" option.
--
-oj
"phil2phil" <philtwophil@.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1149628854.682532.227770@.u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
> hi,
> I had sql server 2000 on my machine and recently installed 2005, it
> removed the 2000 tools that I had, I know 2005 is suppose to be an
> improvement of 2000, but I wanted to keep using my 2000 tools until I
> get use to everything in 2005, is there anyway for me to get the 2000
> tools back?
> Thank you.
>