Inserting a column

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
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G

Guest

When trying to insert a column in a database, dataview mode, I get blocked by
this message: too mant fields defined. What does this mean and how can I
overcome it?
 
There is a limit of 255 fields in a table.

You can overcome this problem by changing your data structure so that you
have a related table instead of repeating columns in the one table. The
Table Analyzer can probably give you some suggestions on which fields need
to be taken out to another table:
Tools | Analyze | Table

Here is Microsoft's introduction to the basics of how to set up your data
correctly:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;209534
and a webcast:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324613

To read further on this topic, search for the word "normalization".

Once you understand the ideas and how to create related tables, you
generally need no more than 40 fields in one table, never more than 70.
 
You are only allowed 255 fields in a table.
If you have reached that limit, chances are better than average that
your database is not designed very well.

Regards,
Andreas
 
Just a clarification on the answers from Allen and Andreas. Sometimes you
will get that error message even if fewer than 255 fields have been defined
if you've been adding and deleting columns and haven't compacted the
database. The count of the fields in the table is not guaranteed to be
correct until the compact has been done.

However, if you're that close to 255, then I agree with them that you
probably need to rethink your design, It's exceedingly rare to require more
than, say, 20 fields in a single table in a properly normalized database.
 
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