At 04:40 PM 5/11/2004 +1100, you wrote:

>Consider the following scenario, run directly in isql:
>
>select 'hello' AS
>THIS_IS_A_VERY_LONG_FIELD_NAME_FAR_TOO_LONG_FOR_PRACTICAL_USE from
>rdb$database;
>
>returns the following:
>
>THIS_IS_A_VERY_LONG_FIELD_NAME_
>===============================
>
>hello
>
>While we all know there's a 32 character limit on field names,

You meant 31-character, right?

>it silently applies to aliases as well...

...and any other objects, whether real or virtual: input and output
parameters for stored procedures; local variables in procedures; table
aliases in multi-table queries; declaration names for external
functions; field names in views....

It's a "rule", so it's not really all that "silent", except when it sneaks
up on you.
:-)

./hb