Cry How To...


Obtain record field size information


To see the minimum, average and maximum storage requirements of a field in a table:

Select min(vsize(<field>)),
    avg(vsize(<field>)),
    max(vsize(<field>)) from <table>;

Note: The ‘vsize’ function cannot be used on LONG/BLOB columns. For these instead use: ‘dbms_lob.getlength(<blob-field>)’.


This page represents one page of many pages of notes I made whilst working with Oracle 7 through to 10i. I now no longer work with Oracle databases, but hope that these notes will continue to be of benefit to others.



About the author: is a dedicated software developer and webmaster. For his day job he develops websites and desktop applications as well as providing IT services. He moonlights as a technical author and consultant.