Compact and Repair

[thegameoflife]

I just ran "Compact and Repair" on my database.
Before I ran it the db was 900mb after running it the db is now 65mb.

Where is Access storing all this extra "stuff" ????

 

[thegameoflife]

odd.....

I made a copy of the db and moved it onto the network for safe keeping. It shows the db size at the orginal 900mb???

 

[MichaelJ]

My understanding is that the jet engine only removes deleted objects when you compact the database. Prior to compaction, the objects (tables, queries, etc.) you delete are hidden and marked for deletion and the space they occupied is not available until after you run the compact utility.

This would be similar to deleting files in Windows explorer and they are sent to the recycle bin. You don't get the disk space back until you empty the recycle bin.

This also holds true for deleted data, such as records, in that the database file becomes disorganized and compacting acts in a similar manner as running disk defragmentation on your computer.

Regards,

Mike

 

[scriverb]

As you run queries, make temporary table, create forms and then delete them, add records and delete them the database keep accessing more and more disk storeage area. After awhile there are many pointers around all of the unused space and this affects performance. The Compact and Repair acts like a defragging tool for just the single database file, just like you would defrag you hard drive to optimize its performance.

Just takes out the dead disk storeage area and resets the points to everthing to increase your databases performance.

Bob Scriver