What is maximum database file size, and how do I increase it?

[Guest]

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

The maximum size of a JET 4.0 (MDB) database is 2GB. You can not increase
it, but you can use linked tables to access (no pun intended) data in more
than one MDB.

If that doesn't meet your needs, you can use a higher-capacity server
database such as SQL Server to store your data. The free Express edition of
SQL Server 2005 has a max capacity of 4GB. Other editions have much greater
capacity.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Brendon

Would this explain the error message 3001 (Invalid argument) because of lack
of space when I try to add more names to my table.

 

[Joseph Meehan]

Thanks Brendon

Would this explain the error message 3001 (Invalid argument) because of
lack
of space when I try to add more names to my table.

How many names do you have in that database. 2 gig or even 1 gig in the
older versions is huge. In my professional use I often had 200-300 thousand
records and never came close to maxing out.

 

[Guest]

What is the size of the .mdb file and how many names are you trying to add?

Also have you tried a compact and repair if the .mdb file size is getting
towards the upper limit?

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

I can't really say. I've never personally seen an MDB that came anywhere
close to the limit, so I don't have any direct experience of how they
behave.

If your MDB is getting close to the limit, first check what Tony Towes has
on the subject of things that cause MDBs to bloat at the following URL ...

http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/bloatfe.htm

If none of those tips enable you to avoid the problem, then it's probably
time to move to a server database engine such as SQL Server.

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

Would this explain the error message 3001 (Invalid argument) because of lack
of space when I try to add more names to my table.

Yes, that message has been reported in the past when the MDB hits the
2 Gb limit.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
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