[mirimir]

If you have enough examples, you can see which field goes over 12. In undocumented datasets, that's the only option.

[majewsky]

That assumes that the dataset is consistent with itself.

[mirimir]

Well, you gotta assume something ;)

And you're right. I've seen some pretty strange stuff.

Sometimes, when forced to use ancient enterprise data systems, desperate staff use abandoned fields for new purposes.