MS ACCESS error message.

[lloyd]

I have been developing a large database in access and I'm
now recieving the error message "There isn't enough memory
to perform this operation. Close unneeded programs and try
the operation again." All I was attempting was to add a
field and move some others and when I attempt to save the
changes I now get this error message. It has haulted my
project and I'm unable to continue. HELP!

 

[Trinity]

Hi

I once had the same problem, spent a few hours and came
upon this obscure and yet simple solution.

I can only assume if you say it is large, you have done a
little Visual Basic... and if you haven't on an
intentional level, every command box you use creates
Visual Basic in the background.

If you can still open your database, do so.

1. Under VIEW on your toolbar, select Code (a bright
blue, red, yellow "U" shaped icon) This will open Visual
Basic.
2. You will be faced with Visual Basic files and I am
willing to bet that there will be many open. In the
upper right hand corner close each one. Half way
through, Save but do not close and return to the
database. Keep closing the files/sheets that related to
each form you have. When you have no sheets open
anymore, do a final Save and then return to the database.
3. YOu should be fine after this.
What is happening is Access opens a file for each form
ever created, but does not close them. So that in the
background a lot of files are open, consuming a lot of
RAM in order to operate. For beginner and intermediate
users, it is a problem, as we would never consider going
to play in Visual Basic. An advanced user who designs in
Visual BAsic would close the files as they go. It's a
gap where intermediate users know enough to do some fancy
things, but don't know enough to catch things like this.

Hope this helps...