Too Many Fields Defined

[Amy]

I have a large table and am trying to enter a few more
fields. Yesterday as I was doing this and trying to save,
I kept getting a "Too Many Fields Defined" and then it
would give me an error and tell me it couldn't save, but
it would save.

Today I get the same message, but it will not save.

Does anyone know what "Too Many Fields Defined" means?

Thanks,
Amy

 

[Cathy]

Amy,

Your table is getting to wide. Consider splitting it into
smaller relational tables.

Cathy

 

[Cheryl Fischer]

Over the lifetime of a table, the maximum number of fields allowed is 255 -
including deleted fields. You can view all specifications/limitations of
an Access database by opening Help and typing the word specifications in
the Answer Wizard.

However, it appears from your brief post that you are building an
application with highly un-normalized data which is going to give you much
grief down the road when you need to build queries and reports and otherwise
tap into the database for fast and accurate return of information.

Here is a link which you may want to review regarding normalizing data:

Normalizing Your Database: First Normal Form
http://databases.about.com/library/weekly/aa081901a.htm

And a suggested book on database design:

"Database Design for Mere Mortals" Amazon link
http://tinyurl.com/2c6bp

 

[John Vinson]

Does anyone know what "Too Many Fields Defined" means?

It means you have over 255 fields in your table, or that you've added
and deleted and readded fields so that you have added an aggregate of
255 fields. You can get the full 255 by Compacting your database
(Tools... Database Utilities... Compact and Repair), but there is
simply no way to get more.

A properly normalized table will NEVER be that wide! 60 fields is an
*enormously* wide table. Step back and think about normalizing your
data structure, and you'll avoid this problem.