MySQL raises error 1860 when the combined length of the database name, schema, and object identifier exceeds the internal path limit.
ER_IDENT_CAUSES_TOO_LONG_PATH occurs when a database, schema, or table name forms a path longer than MySQL allows. Shorten the object names or adjust sql-mode limits to resolve the issue.
ER_IDENT_CAUSES_TOO_LONG_PATH
Error 1860 signals that MySQL could not create or locate an internal file because the generated path is longer than the platform limit. The path is built from the data directory, database name, schema folders, and the table or index file name.
The check was added in MySQL 5.7.1 to prevent file-system level failures. When the total characters exceed the hard cap, MySQL aborts the statement and returns ER_IDENT_CAUSES_TOO_LONG_PATH.
Any statement that creates or renames objects can trigger the error: CREATE DATABASE, CREATE TABLE, RENAME TABLE, ALTER TABLE ADD INDEX, or CREATE TABLE LIKE. Long identifiers combine with directory prefixes and file extensions to break the path limit.
The limit is platform-dependent but typically 255 characters on Linux and 260 characters on Windows. If innodb_file_per_table is ON, each table generates a separate .ibd file, lengthening the path.
Fixes focus on shortening either the directory path or the object identifiers. The quickest remedy is to use shorter database, schema, and table names. Alternatively, move the data directory to a higher root level to reduce prefix length.
When refactoring names is impossible, create a view or synonym with a shorter alias and keep the physical table name concise. On Unix systems you can raise the maximum filename length only by rebuilding the file system, which is rarely practical.
Developers often hit the error when programmatically generating partitioned tables with verbose timestamps or UUIDs. Shorten the suffix or use numeric partition tokens.
Data-warehouse setups that nest schemas for each microservice can exhaust the path limit quickly. Flatten the hierarchy or use underscores instead of folders.
Adopt a concise naming convention: keep database names under 32 characters and table names under 48 characters. Avoid excessive underscores and timestamps.
Configure Galaxy collections to enforce naming lints during code review. The editor highlights long identifiers before they reach production.
Error 1110 (ER_WRONG_COLUMN_NAME) appears when column names exceed 64 characters. Error 1050 (ER_TABLE_EXISTS_ERROR) can surface after an aborted create due to path length; DROP the partial files and retry.
Storing the MySQL datadir inside several sub-folders adds 40-80 characters before any identifier is considered.
Names that include environment, region, service, and date tokens combine to exceed path limits.
Auto-generated tables with UUIDs, timestamps, or descriptive strings dramatically lengthen filenames.
Each table gets its own .ibd file so the full name repeats the identifier, doubling the effective length.
Raised when a column name exceeds the 64-character limit. Shorten the column identifier.
May follow a failed CREATE when partial files exist. DROP or RENAME the conflicting table.
Appears if a long-path table creation fails silently and subsequent queries cannot find it.
The practical ceiling is usually 255 characters on Linux and 260 on Windows, but object names plus directory prefixes can exceed this quickly.
No sql_mode setting can bypass the file-system limit. Only shorter names or a shorter datadir path help.
The limit is enforced by the operating system and MySQL storage engine code. It cannot be changed through runtime variables.
Galaxy flags identifiers that violate naming rules during query drafting, preventing ER_IDENT_CAUSES_TOO_LONG_PATH from ever reaching production.
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