Minor changes result in much larger file size

[oldblindpew]

To modify and further develop my database safely, I first copied it to
another folder. After making various minor changes and general cleaning up,
the 14.2 mb file has grown to 20.9 mb. The number of records has not
changed. What could possibly account for this gross increase in file size?

 

[John W. Vinson]

To modify and further develop my database safely, I first copied it to
another folder. After making various minor changes and general cleaning up,
the 14.2 mb file has grown to 20.9 mb. The number of records has not
changed. What could possibly account for this gross increase in file size?

When you change an object such as a Form or Report, Access makes the changes
in a new copy of the object and leaves the old one around (although not
accessible, usable or recoverable, generally). You can recover the space that
it formerly occupied by using Tools... Database Utilities... Compact and
Repair (it's under the Office medallion button in 2007).

 

[oldblindpew]

Thanks! I find it under Office Button/Manage/Compact and Repair...

 

[oldblindpew]

WOW!! It shrank down to 2.6mb from 20!

Thanks! I find it under Office Button/Manage/Compact and Repair...

 

[John W. Vinson]

WOW!! It shrank down to 2.6mb from 20!

<g> Yep. Access is a good database but it's a very poor housekeeper - must be
an old bachelor.

Compacting also recompiles your queries, reorganizes indexes, repairs some
types of database corruption... it's a good idea to do it whenever the
database has doubled in size or on a schedule. HOWEVER it can (rarely) corrupt
or even destroy a database; good backups are essential.