# Saving long values in TEXT\_ column instead of as a bytearray

**URL:** <https://forum.flowable.org/t/saving-long-values-in-text-column-instead-of-as-a-bytearray/8244>\
**Category:** Flowable Engine\
**Created:** [August 11, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.flowable.org/t/saving-long-values-in-text-column-instead-of-as-a-bytearray/8244 "2021-08-11T16:52:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pratikpbhagat](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.flowable.org/pratikpbhagat/32/2239_2.png) [@pratikpbhagat](https://forum.flowable.org/u/pratikpbhagat)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.flowable.org/t/saving-long-values-in-text-column-instead-of-as-a-bytearray/8244/1 "2021-08-11T16:52:38Z")

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I want to save all the long text or description greater than 4000 in the same TEXT\_ column instead of saving it as bytearray in the table act\_hi\_varinst\_.

Please suggest how can this be achieved. I want to save JSON values in the TEXT\_ column instead of saving it is bytes in the act\_ge\_bytearray table and having the ID\_ in the act\_hi\_varinst\_ column.

I tried changing the datatype of the column TEXT\_ in act\_hi\_varinst table to TEXT instead of varchar(4000) but it still saves as a bytearray.

Adding I referred this [post](https://forum.flowable.org/t/long-variable-types-why-do-we-need-it/6607), where it mentions about removing **VariableLongType** from flowable-engine configuration. Where do I need to make these changes?

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**Author:** ![filiphr](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.flowable.org/filiphr/32/315_2.png) [@filiphr](https://forum.flowable.org/u/filiphr)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 7:14am UTC](https://forum.flowable.org/t/saving-long-values-in-text-column-instead-of-as-a-bytearray/8244/2 "2021-08-12T07:14:57Z")

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Hey @pratikpbhagat,

You can achieve this by setting the `maxLengthStringVariableType` on the `ProcessEngineConfiguration`. If you set that then the `StringType` will always be used and that stores the data in the `TEXT_` column. If you want to be extra sure you can try adding your own `StringType` before the current `StringType.

Cheers,  
Filip

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**Author:** ![pratikpbhagat](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/forum.flowable.org/pratikpbhagat/32/2239_2.png) [@pratikpbhagat](https://forum.flowable.org/u/pratikpbhagat)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 7:59am UTC](https://forum.flowable.org/t/saving-long-values-in-text-column-instead-of-as-a-bytearray/8244/3 "2021-08-12T07:59:32Z")

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Thanks for the reply.

Is this something that can be changed in the properties file as I’ am using the flowable apps as WAR file.