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in reply to Re^2: length() returns wrong result - suspicious magic
in thread length() returns wrong result - suspicious magic

why DBD::ODBC (which wrote to the scalar) might need to call SvSETMAGIC?

To assign a value to a scalar, there are a few steps to follow.

To obtain a value from a scalar, the same is done in reverse.

Some macros and functions do more than one of these steps for you.

Setting $txt = $txt at the end of the loop makes no difference

No, at the start of the loop. After the fetch, but before you use it.

There's no get magic on the scalar (GMG=0), so the fact that the set magic wasn't called earlier work won't matter. But when the value is assigned back to the scalar, the assignment will properly handle the set magic.

If I'm right, I can provide a cheaper workaround than copying the string (which defies the purpose of binding).

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