Need to set Record Limit to -1 to avoid bringing in records

[Bob_Blackey]

I've worked with computers long enough to realize that when something looks weird to the average users there is often a "reasonable" explanation (I'm looking at you 0 based indexes).

On an Input Data tool (Excel) it would seem reasonable to assume that setting a record limit of 0 would bring in no records, instead it brings them all in.

You need to set the limit to -1 to just bring in the metadata. (which the help doesn't mention, found it in a Tips and Tricks)

Who's got a good reason/story?

Cheers,
Bob

P.S. If you don't happen to know the real reason I'd also be impressed by the most creative reason.

[MarqueeCrew · Accepted solution]

The reason is that 0 equals ALL. In the Stone Age, when you wanted to limit data you used 0 to indicate that you want all records.

-1 seems logical to me

[Bob_Blackey]

I thought I was up on my stone age knowledge, but I must have been out hunting and gathering that day of school. I'll have to go back and take a look at my old SNOBOL code.