---
title: "Size Property (ADO Parameter) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: connectivity
ms.technology: connectivity
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ms.date: "01/19/2017"
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ms.topic: conceptual
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  - "_Parameter::Size"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "Size property [ADO Parameter]"
ms.assetid: e6bad449-ebdb-4dd3-886a-9e6f1e7ee5d2
author: MightyPen
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---
# Size Property (ADO Parameter)
Indicates the maximum size, in bytes or characters, of a [Parameter](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/parameter-object.md) object.  
  
## Settings and Return Values  
 Sets or returns a **Long** value that indicates the maximum size in bytes or characters of a value in a **Parameter** object.  
  
## Remarks  
 Use the **Size** property to determine the maximum size for values written to or read from the [Value](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/value-property-ado.md) property of a **Parameter** object.  
  
 If you specify a variable-length data type for a **Parameter** object (for example, any **String** type, such as **adVarChar**), you must set the object's **Size** property before appending it to the [Parameters](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/parameters-collection-ado.md) collection; otherwise, an error occurs.  
  
 If you have already appended the **Parameter** object to the **Parameters** collection of a [Command](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/command-object-ado.md) object and you change its type to a variable-length data type, you must set the **Parameter** object's **Size** property before executing the **Command** object; otherwise, an error occurs.  
  
 If you use the [Refresh](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/refresh-method-ado.md) method to obtain parameter information from the provider and it returns one or more variable-length data type **Parameter** objects, ADO may allocate memory for the parameters based on their maximum potential size, which could cause an error during execution. To prevent an error, you should explicitly set the **Size** property for these parameters before executing the command.  
  
 The **Size** property is read/write.  
  
## Applies To  
 [Parameter Object](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/parameter-object.md)  
  
## See Also  
 [ActiveConnection, CommandText, CommandTimeout, CommandType, Size, and Direction Properties Example (VB)](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/activeconnection-commandtext-commandtimeout-commandtype-size-example-vb.md)   
 [ActiveConnection, CommandText, CommandTimeout, CommandType, Size, and Direction Properties Example (VC++)](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/activeconnection-commandtext-commandtimeout-commandtype-size-example-vc.md)   
 [ActiveConnection, CommandText, CommandTimeout, CommandType, Size, and Direction Properties Example (JScript)](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/activeconnection-commandtext-timeout-type-size-example-jscript.md)   
 [Size Property (ADO Stream)](../../../ado/reference/ado-api/size-property-ado-stream.md)