Max Fields on a Table ??????

[Guest]

I have 235 Fields on one table when I try to add any more and come to save
this table I get a error message saying Too Many Fields Defined, I need to
Create another 15, is this possible or how do I get round the problem ??

 

[Nikos Yannacopoulos]

Philip,

If you look up Access Specifications in help you will see that the max.
number of fields in a table is 255. If you need more, then the solution
is to divide them between two tables, joined by a common primary key, so
there is a one-to-one relationship between them.
I have to say, though, that it is quite unusuakl that so many fields are
required in a table. Any chance your data are not normalized?

HTH,
Nikos

 

[Steve Schapel]

Philip,

Try Compact the database (via the Tools|Database Utilities menu).

Having said that, the need to have this many fields in a table is almost
certainly a sign that your database design could be improved, and you
may want to seek some advice or help with this aspect.

 

[Guest]

Hello Nikos

Thanks for your reply if i could add 255 that would be enough for that
table,any ideas why i can't add above 235

 

[Guest]

Hello Steve

Thanks for Info , Compacted the database and repaired it,Now I can add the
full 255
fields,its a metallurgical database examining spring properties.

 

[Joseph Meehan]

I have 235 Fields on one table when I try to add any more and come to
save this table I get a error message saying Too Many Fields Defined,
I need to Create another 15, is this possible or how do I get round
the problem ??

I am glad you have been able to resolve your question, but I suggest
that your problem is really normalized data or the lack of it.

From your description it sounds like you may have samples to which a
number of test are done and you want to record the results of each test.

The proper design for this would be one table with a list of the samples
linked to a second table with the results of the test. You may have just a
couple of fields in each table.

Using a form you could show and or record the sample data at the top of
the form and the list of test along with results dates etc. under it.

They would be linked by an ID field with a unique ID for each sample.

Trust us on this one. It is far better to do it this way. What happens
in two months when the boss wants to add 10 more test or wants to do some
sort of calculation of the results that can't be done as you have them now?

 

[Larry Daugherty]

And a single spring has 255 attributes?

I suggest that you read up on Normalization. It would also be useful
to lurk microsoft.public.access.tablesdesign

HTH