fix: address review feedback on identifier length validation

- Add @classmethod decorator and -> int return type to relation_max_name_length()
- Broaden error message to not mention store_failures specifically; the
  validator fires on any oversized identifier (models, seeds, snapshots, etc.)
- Remove test_relation_max_name_length test (failing and not required per review)
- Move CHANGELOG entry from 1.11.7 to new 1.11.8 section

https://claude.ai/code/session_017ZAXMwLSnqz4FqvTt5H7D1

Author: psaikaushik

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+## dbt-databricks 1.11.8 (TBD)
+
+### Fixes
+
+- Validate relation identifier length at creation time and raise a clear error when it exceeds Databricks' 255-character limit ([#1309](https://github.com/databricks/dbt-databricks/issues/1309))
+
 ## dbt-databricks 1.11.7 (Apr 17, 2026)
 
 ### Features
@@ -10,7 +16,6 @@
 - Fix `workflow_job` Python model submission method failing with dictionary attribute error ([#1360](https://github.com/databricks/dbt-databricks/issues/1360))
 - Fix `TestWorkflowJob` functional test that was unreachable on all profiles due to incorrect skip list, wrong model fixture, and invalid `max_retries` parameter ([#1360](https://github.com/databricks/dbt-databricks/issues/1360))
 - Fix column order mismatch in microbatch and replace_where incremental strategies by using INSERT BY NAME syntax ([#1338](https://github.com/databricks/dbt-databricks/issues/1338))
-- Validate relation identifier length at creation time and raise a clear error when it exceeds Databricks' 255-character limit, preventing confusing runtime failures when `store_failures: true` generates long table names ([#1309](https://github.com/databricks/dbt-databricks/issues/1309))
 - Fix `dbt run --empty` failing with inline `ref()` / `source()` aliases ([dbt-labs/dbt-adapters#660](https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-adapters/issues/660))
 
 ### Under the Hood

dbt/adapters/databricks/relation.py

@@ -93,10 +93,13 @@ def __post_init__(self) -> None:
                 raise DbtRuntimeError(
                     f"Relation name '{self.identifier}' is longer than "
                     f"{self.relation_max_name_length()} characters. "
-                    "Use a shorter test name or configure a custom alias."
+                    "Databricks has a maximum identifier length of "
+                    f"{self.relation_max_name_length()} characters. "
+                    "Use a shorter name or configure a custom alias."
                 )
 
-    def relation_max_name_length(self):
+    @classmethod
+    def relation_max_name_length(cls) -> int:
         return MAX_CHARACTERS_IN_IDENTIFIER
 
     @classmethod

tests/unit/test_relation.py

@@ -373,9 +373,6 @@ def test_render_constraints_for_create__with_constraints(
 
 
 class TestIdentifierLengthValidation:
-    def test_relation_max_name_length(self):
-        assert DatabricksRelation.relation_max_name_length() == MAX_CHARACTERS_IN_IDENTIFIER
-
     def test_valid_identifier_length(self):
         identifier = "a" * MAX_CHARACTERS_IN_IDENTIFIER
         rel = DatabricksRelation.create(identifier=identifier, type="table")