length of imported text fields issue

[Guest]

I have some databases being imported to access from csv text files. Even
though I have Access set to have any txt field to a maximum 30 integers, the
imported text fields all come through at the maximum 256 characters, creating
larger than life files. They are big tables (up to 1gb) and if I try and
reduce field sizes once they've been imported then I get insufficient memory
issues etc. Why are my access settings being overridden on import ie
30integers to 256 integers? Can I change this?

 

[Rick Brandt]

I have some databases being imported to access from csv text files.
Even though I have Access set to have any txt field to a maximum 30
integers, the imported text fields all come through at the maximum
256 characters, creating larger than life files. They are big tables
(up to 1gb) and if I try and reduce field sizes once they've been
imported then I get insufficient memory issues etc. Why are my
access settings being overridden on import ie 30integers to 256
integers? Can I change this?

Access tables only take up as much room for text fields as the text they
actually contain regardless of the maximum length set so that is not why you
have bloat.

Te default field size only applies to tables you create via the GUI not to those
created with imports.

To have maximum control create the table ahead of time and use the import to
populate it rather than having the import create the table.