Section 2.2.4.4. Lengths of data names and block codes

CIF imposes another length restriction that is not integral to the STAR File syntax: data names, data-block codes and frame codes may not exceed 75 characters in length. This is an increase over the 32-character limit of the original specification, although this extension had already been approved by COMCIFS to coincide with the release of version 2 of the core dictionary (see Chapter 3.2 ).

There is no fundamental technical reason underlying this restriction; it permits assignment of a fixed-length buffer for recording such data names within a software application, but perhaps more significantly, it encourages a measure of conciseness in the creation of data names based on hierarchical component terms.