--- php_mssql.c.1.149	2005-08-05 15:34:08.698263336 +0100
+++ php_mssql.c	2005-08-05 15:42:09.225212136 +0100
@@ -2027,13 +2027,27 @@
 	/* modify datalen and maxlen according to dbrpcparam documentation */
 	if ( (type==SQLVARCHAR) || (type==SQLCHAR) || (type==SQLTEXT) )	{	/* variable-length type */
 		if (is_null) {
-			maxlen=0;
-			datalen=0;
+			datalen = 0;
+			if (is_output)
+				maxlen = -1;
+			else
+				maxlen = -1;
 		}
 		else {
 			convert_to_string_ex(var);
-			datalen=Z_STRLEN_PP(var);
 			value=(LPBYTE)Z_STRVAL_PP(var);
+			if (is_output) {
+				if ((maxlen > 0 ) && (maxlen < 256))
+					datalen = maxlen;
+				else {
+					maxlen = 255;
+					datalen = 255;
+				}
+			}
+			else {
+				maxlen = -1;
+				datalen=Z_STRLEN_PP(var);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	else	{	/* fixed-length type */