-/* Max length of a short string value, generally 8 chars. */
-#define MAX_SHORT_STRING ((SIZEOF_DOUBLE)>=8 ? ((SIZEOF_DOUBLE)+1)/2*2 : 8)
-#define MIN_LONG_STRING (MAX_SHORT_STRING+1)
-
-/* Max string length. */
-#define MAX_STRING 255
+/* "Short" strings, which are generally those no more than 8
+ characters wide, can participate in more operations than
+ longer strings. */
+#define MAX_SHORT_STRING (MAX (ROUND_UP (SIZEOF_DOUBLE, 2), 8))
+#define MIN_LONG_STRING (MAX_SHORT_STRING + 1)
+#define MAX_STRING 32767