How long can a "Public Note" be?

[OROBTC]

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I am curious to know how many alphanumerics can "ride along" a BTC transaction ("Public Note").

Here is an example (hash code for this transaction) of a small BTC transaction with a Public Note (perhaps best viewed at blockchain.info):

798b90badb81492b35ac2f98b1d6b742edd3da490a99f7b48588655f91ad6841

Here is the message (about 39 characters, went through OK):

HowManyCharactersCanRideAlongAsALabel?


EDIT:

Perhaps using hash codes as the Public Note is what factom.org has in mind for using the blockchain to store their large quantities of information without making the blockchain too bloated (?)

factom.org is an interesting little start-up.

[MineForeman.com]

No idea, but remember, the "public note" feature is only available on blockchain.info and wont be seen anywhere else.  (I personally dislike it as I think it encourages blockchain spam)

It is not stored in the real blockchain.

[geforcelover]

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I am curious to know how many alphanumerics can "ride along" a BTC transaction ("Public Note").

Here is an example (hash code for this transaction) of a small BTC transaction with a Public Note:

798b90badb81492b35ac2f98b1d6b742edd3da490a99f7b48588655f91ad6841

Here is the message (about 39 characters, went through OK):

HowManyCharactersCanRideAlongAsALabel?


EDIT:

Perhaps using hash codes as the Public Note is what factom.org has in mind for using the blockchain to store their large quantities of information without making the blockchain too bloated (?)

well i think why not you try sending with a longish note ? i think it can fill the whole line alongwith transaction !

[OROBTC]

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@ MineForeman.com

It looks like MultiBit will allow a "Label" too, I tried to send something out from my 11-cent balance there at MultiBit, but forgot the password...

I do not know if any other blockchain watch programs will allow viewing a Label.

[shorena]

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@ MineForeman.com

It looks like MultiBit will allow a "Label" too, I tried to send something out from my 11-cent balance there at MultiBit, but forgot the password...

I do not know if any other blockchain watch programs will allow viewing a Label.

Most wallets allow a local label to help you remember which address is for what. That has nothing to do with the data stored on the actual blockchain.

[OROBTC]

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shorena & MineForeman.com

Thank you for the information!

[MineForeman.com]

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@ MineForeman.com

It looks like MultiBit will allow a "Label" too, I tried to send something out from my 11-cent balance there at MultiBit, but forgot the password...

I do not know if any other blockchain watch programs will allow viewing a Label.

Never used MultiBit so I would not know.

There is only one place you can put arbitrary data into a transaction and that is the OP_RETURN script that currently takes 40 bytes (soon to be 80).  So you will get 40 ASCII character into it if you really wanted.  (80 soon).

I have a feeling though that OP_RETURN is going to be abused and it might not be around for long.