Compact and rebuild database ????? Why?

[markajem]

I do not have experience with MS Access (I work with Crystal reports) but we had a programmer here that created an MS Access report and told the user that when he finishes running the report he has to click on a button that will compact and rebuild the database and also advised him not to run the report while other people are accessing the system. Can someone please shed some light on this subject for me as to what actually takes place during the process of compact and rebuild the database and why it should be done.

Thanks
Mark
Mark
Email: markanas333@hotmail.com

 

[SgtJarrow]

Unless the report creation process uses a lot of maketable queries/adding and deleting data, it should not be necessary to do a compact/repair after each run.

Access allocates space for any object, be it a button, text box, or the data that goes into the text box or table, as soon as the object is called for or created. but if you delete the object, the space is not released. This process is very similar to how MSExchange allocates storage for a emails, if you are familiar with that process.

The compact/repair option frees up the "allocated but unused" space, thereby reducing the overall size of the db and increasing performance. Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. (Albert Einstein)

Robert L. Johnson III, MCSA, MCP, Network+, A+
Access Developer/Programmer
robert.l.johnson.iii@citigroup.com