is to adjust the NPL-update code so that the maximum path length is 255:
-use constant MAXVARCHARLENGTH=>255; #(use 4096 for mysql > 5.0.3) + #(maximum varchar length is 255 for mysql version < 5.0.3. + #You can increase path length to 4096 for mysql > 5.0.3)
I've made the change for now in the version of NPL-update checked in the CVS:
http://cvs.webwork.rochester.edu/viewcvs.cgi/webwork2/bin/NPL-update
-- Mike