Q:

How do I limit the size of a text field?

I am building my first MVC app, so please excuse me if its a rookie question. I am building a web app that queries an existing SQL database Log tables that are created when a new record is created, mapping the response back using Dapper.
However, the Log messages text can be 1000's of lines long. Is there a way that I can limit the length of the returned value to say 100 characters? 
EDIT #1
I have tried the following after success in the SQL Server manager query:
   CAST(myColumn as CHAR(100)),
   LEFT(myColumn,100),
   SUBSTRING(myColumn,0,100)

All of these worked in the Server Manager Query window, but did not work when I put them in my ConnectionString.Query for Dapper.

A:

SELECT LEFT (your_column, 100) FROM your_table 
Got the above answer from this post...

A:

Alright I found what was i was doing wrong. This is what i used to get the first 100 characters from the returned value:
   SELECT CAST(myColumn as CHAR(100)) AS mySHORTENEDColumn FROM myTable

I am kinda embarrassed that I didn't find it before posting the question but I figure maybe it will help someone else, that's a rookie like me.

