I think I found a Bug!

[Brad1]

If you have a field length of say 10 in a Select Tool, then you use a Left Join tool and change that length to say 4. This turns that field red - as it should.  Then add a Select tool after the Union.  It should say 4 in the second Select tool.  But instead it says 10.  If it was changed to 10 (and it wasn't) then the field s/b red.

Found_a_Bug.yxmd

[WayneWooldridge]

Indeed.  It appears the Join Tool only changes the field size on the 'J' output side.  The 'L' and 'R' side are not affected.  Thank you for bringing this to our attention!

[DavidP]

Isn't that what you'd expect? Un-joined records, (L and R) are untouched by the join tool. It's the same with renaming or changing the type - it only affects joined records.

[Brad1]

It's not what I'd expect. 

I would expect what ever comes out the other side of a Left, Right or Inner to be the same length.  Otherwise, why even allow for length changes in there?  Who wants a joined table with some of the data in the column being 4 characters and other data being 10 characters?  What confuses the issue further is if you add a select tool after the Union - it shows 10.  Yet the column now is outputting TWO different field lengths and only telling you about ONE.  It's confusing and should be changed.

Yes, I added two select tools after the join for L and for J and changed the Length for both - but I don't think you should have to.

I normally make may changes in the Select tool.  But I was feeling lazy and changed it in the Join - since I was there.  It blew up what uses that data.

[Brad1]

The way I look at it is if you can change the field length in a tool that allows for Left Right, Inner, Full Outer - everything that comes out of that tool should be changed to whatever you changed the field length to.  Or remove the option.

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