diff --git a/app/RSpade/upstream_changes/text_field_max_lengths_12_29.txt b/app/RSpade/upstream_changes/text_field_max_lengths_12_29.txt
index 205cba56c..9659daa25 100755
--- a/app/RSpade/upstream_changes/text_field_max_lengths_12_29.txt
+++ b/app/RSpade/upstream_changes/text_field_max_lengths_12_29.txt
@@ -54,13 +54,61 @@ This is generated automatically from database schema metadata.
 
 ## Migration Checklist
 
-### 1. Find all Text_Input components
+### 1. Update Text_Input component files
+
+**rsx/theme/components/inputs/text/text_input.js** - Add on_create() method:
+
+```javascript
+class Text_Input extends Form_Input_Abstract {
+    on_create() {
+        super.on_create();
+
+        // Only require $max_length when Text_Input is used directly, not subclasses
+        if (this.constructor === Text_Input && this.args.max_length === undefined) {
+            console.error(
+                `Text_Input with $name="${this.args.name}" requires $max_length. ` +
+                `Use $max_length=Model_Name.field_length('column_name') for database-driven limits, ` +
+                `a numeric value for custom limits, or -1 for unlimited.`
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    // ... rest of existing code (keep _get_value, _set_value, on_ready, seed)
+}
+```
+
+**rsx/theme/components/inputs/text/text_input.jqhtml** - Update template:
+
+1. Change all `this.args.maxlength` to `this.args.max_length`
+2. Change condition from `if (this.args.maxlength)` to `if (this.args.max_length > 0)`
+3. Add maxlength to textarea (was missing before):
+
+```html
+<textarea $sid="input"
+          class="form-control"
+          rows="<%= this.args.rows || 3 %>"
+          placeholder="<%= this.args.placeholder || '' %>"
+          <% if (this.args.max_length > 0) { %>maxlength="<%= this.args.max_length %>"<% } %>
+          <% if (this.args.disabled) { %>disabled<% } %>></textarea>
+```
+
+Apply the same `max_length > 0` check to both input elements in the template.
+
+### 2. Rebuild manifest
+
+```bash
+php artisan rsx:manifest:build --clean
+```
+
+This regenerates JS model stubs with the new `field_length()` method.
+
+### 3. Find all Text_Input usage in forms
 
 ```bash
 grep -rn '<Text_Input' rsx/app --include="*.jqhtml" --include="*.blade.php"
 ```
 
-### 2. Add $max_length to each
+### 4. Add $max_length to each
 
 For database-backed fields (recommended):
 ```html
@@ -77,7 +125,7 @@ For truly unlimited fields (use sparingly):
 <Text_Input $name="notes" $type="textarea" $max_length=-1 />
 ```
 
-### 3. Verify no console errors
+### 5. Verify no console errors
 
 Load each form and check browser console. Any Text_Input missing `$max_length` will log: