what does "too many fields defined" mean?

[Guest]

I tried to add a new column to my database, but when I clicked on "column" to
add, a message popped up saying "Too many fields defined," and the help
buttlon next to the message opened to a blank screen. Can anyone help??

 

[Joseph Meehan]

I tried to add a new column to my database, but when I clicked on
"column" to add, a message popped up saying "Too many fields
defined," and the help buttlon next to the message opened to a blank
screen. Can anyone help??

It means you almost certainly are using Access like a spreadsheet.
Access has a limit of 255 fields. I have never seen a properly designed
database with over 50 fields.

The usual problem is normalization. I would guess you have something
like a record for each person and are keeping a record of their name address
phone etc and also listing all the classes they are taking or jobs they have
worked on.

Proper design requires one table for each person, another table for the
classes they take and other for the jobs they have worked on with a new
record, not a new field for each new class or job. Keep the address and
phone information with the individual table.

When designed right, not only can you have thousands of events connected
to an individual, but it will also run faster and you can access the
information in more ways.

If this is confusing and it usually is the first time or even the second
or third time though it, describe what you are doing in more detail and we
will try and aim you in the right direction.

 

[Guest]

I tried to add a new column to my database, but when I clicked on "column" to
add, a message popped up saying "Too many fields defined," and the help
buttlon next to the message opened to a blank screen. Can anyone help??

The answer given is not helpfule. I do not have over 200 fields in the
database.

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Have you compacted the database?

 

[Rick Brandt]

The answer given is not helpfule. I do not have over 200 fields in
the database.

You can also get that error if the total number of bytes in a single row exceeds
2K.

 

[Douglas J Steele]

You can also get that error if the total number of bytes in a single row exceeds
2K.

Note, though, that will only happen when you're trying to populate the
table, not when you're trying to define the table. You can create a table
with 20 fields of 255 bytes each, and Access will cheerfully accept it. It's
only when you try to put more than 2000 bytes of data into a row that it'll
complain.

 

[TC]

How many fields /do/ you have in that table?

TC [MVP Access]

 

[Guest]

Have you compacted the database?

 

[slscanlon3]

You are not using the same field name twice are you? You get a similar
error when trying to display the same field name more than once in the
same table/query.