One way todo this is to use the hook_form_alter
With the hook you can add a validation for the required field
see: http://api.drupal.org/api/function/hook_form_alter/6
and: http://api.drupal.org/api/function/_form_validate/6
Thanks, I appreciate that lead.
However, I don't need to *validate* the form so much as be able to set the maxlength in the first place. All the text input fields are automatically assigned "maxlength=128". I want to set "maxlength=12" or whatever I need for that particular attribute.
Honestly, I'm astonished that I cannot easily do this. There must be a way that I'm overlooking.