What is the maximum number of items I can have in a drop-down list

[cfusch]

In creating a custom field set for alphanumeric and 'select' is there a limitation on the number of drop-down (select) items a field can have?  AND is there some way to import the list of items rather than using the administrative entry of one at a time? - Carl

[Coleman Watts]

Civi does not impose a limit afaik but there is a practical limit to how many options a web browser can load before page requests become unreasonably slow. I'd say it's somewhere between 100 and 1000 depending on your use. Beyond that I would switch the widget to autocomplete.

You could use the api to bulk-import options.

[petednz]

when i have a civi field in webform with over 500 it throws up a message

Maximum contacts exceeded, list truncated.
The field "xxx " cannot show more than 500 contacts because it is a select list. Recommend switching to autocomplete widget in component settings.

[Coleman Watts]

Oh yea, I do remember adding that warning for drupal webforms. It was to protect you from creating a list so large that it crashed Drupal or your webbrowser.

[cfusch]

Pete and Coleman, thanks for you response!  Okay, 500 is far beyond what I'll need, but its good to know that I'm covered with a smaller number of select items.  Pete, its on the margin where I still have some diligence with deciding on select vs autocomplete.  I think the client will make the decision.

Never used CiviCRMs API, but I guess its time to give it a whirl and as is with most API's it'll become valuable in the future, too.  Thanks!

Carl