Informix field type

field types for Informix

Field type	Describe	Field length and its default values
char (size)	String data that is used to hold fixed-length (size) bytes.	A fixed length of each line (less than a space), a maximum length of 254 bytes, and a default value of 1 bytes per line.
varchar (size)	Used to save variable-length string data. Where the maximum byte length is specified by (size).	The length of each row is variable and the maximum length is 254 bytes. Data length defaults to 1
Serial	Automatic growth type.	Stored as an integer.
NCHAR (size)	A two-byte string.	Fixed length per line (insufficient part is blank). Length (size) refers to the number of characters, the maximum number of bytes is 254*2.
nvarchar (size)	Variable-length, double-byte string.	Each line becomes longer. Length (size) refers to the number of characters, the maximum number of bytes is size*2.
Real	Holds the floating-point data type, ranging from -2.23E-308 to +2.23E-308.	The maximum length is 8 bytes.
Interval	Used to specify a time span.	(5-3) year to Month, (11:15) hour to minute.
Date	Date type.	Each row is fixed to a length of 10 bytes.
Datetime	Date-time type.	Each row is fixed to a length of 8 bytes.
Integer	Save integer data, ranging from 2147483648 to +2147483647.	The maximum length is 4 bytes 32-1 bytes or 4G.
smallint	Save integer data, ranging from 32768 to +32767	The maximum length is 2 bytes 32-1 bytes or 4G.
Float	Holds the floating-point data type, ranging from -2.23E-308 to +2.23E-308.	The maximum length is 8 bytes.
Smallfloat	Holds the floating-point data type, ranging from -2.23E-308 to +2.23E-308.	The maximum length is 8 bytes.
Money (P,s)	Save exact numeric data types ranging from -10E-38 to +10e-38,p is precision, total decimal digits (1~38), S is decimal bit (decimal bit less than equals p)	The maximum length is 2~17 bytes.
Decimal (P,s)	Save exact numeric data types ranging from -10E-38 to +10e-38,p is precision, total decimal digits (1~38), S is decimal bit (decimal bit less than equals p)	The maximum length is 2~17 bytes.
Text	Saves text data within 2GB of length.	The maximum length is 2G.
Byte	Saves binary data within 2GB of length.	The maximum length is 2G.