Limit on size of exported bib record (with items expanded into it)

Question

  What is the size limit of MARC records (the 5 digit number within the MARC formatted record)?  We are trying to extract/export a bib record and expand 14 item record fields into the 852 field of the bib record that has 1093 items attached. In running print-03, the record shows all 852 fields in the bib record in Aleph sequential format, but when it is put into MARC format, 464 item records are truncated from the MARC record. The record size in the MARC record is 98017. 
  We pulled another record with 465 items attached, and it did not truncate that record, but the MARC record size was 98038. 

Answer

The maximum value of five digits is, of course, 99,999. So that is the maximum size of a MARC-format record which Aleph will create and export. 

In the case where a (truncated) 98,017-byte record was created, with certain items omitted, the program was wanting to include only complete item records. 

Since it's clear that a 98,038-byte record *can* be written, we suggest that you consider that to be the limit and avoid trying to write records larger than that. 

You will need to find some other method of sending larger numbers of items to this vendor -- such as a file of item records in sequential format with a record key linking them to this particular bib.