Access 2000 with unwanted fields

[robirdman]

I made a replica of my database years ago and it immediately doubled in size
from about 50K to 100K. I got rid of the replica but the size never reduced.
Now with more data it is up to about 150K
Recently I decided I had a lot of unnecessary fields and queries and I
created a new database and pasted only the fields, queries etc, and saved the
database and it was reduced to about 100K.

However I recently opened it and found a bunch of new fields.
Gen_image
s_ColLineage
s_GUID
s_Generation
s_Lineage

Since they appeared the DB jumped to about 140KB

I tried to delete the fileds, but can't, it says because they are system
replication fields.
At first I thought they were only in one table (with over 100,000 records)
and I used the make table command to make a new table without them. I then
copied the database and saved it under a different name, and deleted the
older table, renaming the new one to keep queries working. I saw though that
the new database appeared to still be about 140KB. Then I found that all the
other tables also had all these unwanted fields. What do I have to do to
undo this mess?

There is no longer a replica. I don't need or want these fields or the
excess size.

 

[Tom Wickerath]

Hi Robirdman,

Try this utility from Michael Kaplan:

http://www.trigeminal.com/lang/1033/utility.asp?ItemID=11#11

For Access 2000, you want the JET 4.0 version.


Tom

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

 

[robirdman]

Thanks for the info, but I am stuck. Iwent to the site and downloaded the
Jet 4, unzipped it an clicked on the file, I get a box saying :

"Replication system fields removal utility.
sysfld40.exe <database name> [,<tableName1>,...<TableNameN>

To handle all tables in a given database, do not specigy any table names,
other wise give the name of each table whose system fields you wish to remove.

Use brackets around any database paths/names or table names that have space
in them. "

Then there is an OK box to click, and that is all. This is all just an info
box. Clciking OK produces no result. Nowhere to enter any database or table
names. I don't get it. What am I supposed to do?

 

[Tom Wickerath]

Hi Robirdman

You need to run Michael's utility either from a command line prompt, or from
the Start > Run menu. I recommend placing a copy of the executable,
SysFld40.exe, and your database into a temporary folder, such as C:\Temp. It
would probably be best if the name of your database does not include any
spaces. Here is an example for a database named "MyDatabase.mdb", after
placing a copy of this file and the executable file in the C:\Temp folder. Of
course, you must have write privileges for the folder in question:

Click on Start > Run. Enter the following command:

c:\temp\sysfld40 MyDatabase.mdb

Note the single space that separates the database name from the rest of the
entry. After you are finished, I recommend importing all objects into a new
container database, because Michael's utility does not remove any fields from
the normally hidden system tables (tables whose names start with MSYS).


Tom

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

 

[robirdman]

Thanks very much for the detailed instructions. I don't know why I am
getting "runtime error 3024 Could not find the file 'slides13.mdb'

I put this file, slides13.mdb and sysfld40 into a folder on the root
directory, as advised (C:\TEMP) I tried several times and I get this error
message. I opened slides13 from the Temp directory and it opens normally. I
retyped its name, slides13 in case there was any doubt, but it doesn't find
the file sitting in the same directory.

Could it be because the command prompt is typed not from the root directory.

I am typing C:\temp\sysfld40 slides13.mdb
But by default I am in the directory C:\documents and settings ..etc
I can't remember how to back out of this to the root if necessary.
Thanks much

Hi Robirdman

You need to run Michael's utility either from a command line prompt, or from
the Start > Run menu. I recommend placing a copy of the executable,
SysFld40.exe, and your database into a temporary folder, such as C:\Temp. It
would probably be best if the name of your database does not include any
spaces. Here is an example for a database named "MyDatabase.mdb", after
placing a copy of this file and the executable file in the C:\Temp folder. Of
course, you must have write privileges for the folder in question:

Click on Start > Run. Enter the following command:

c:\temp\sysfld40 MyDatabase.mdb

Note the single space that separates the database name from the rest of the
entry. After you are finished, I recommend importing all objects into a new
container database, because Michael's utility does not remove any fields from
the normally hidden system tables (tables whose names start with MSYS).


Tom

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

Thanks for the info, but I am stuck. Iwent to the site and downloaded the
Jet 4, unzipped it an clicked on the file, I get a box saying :

"Replication system fields removal utility.
sysfld40.exe <database name> [,<tableName1>,...<TableNameN>

To handle all tables in a given database, do not specigy any table names,
other wise give the name of each table whose system fields you wish to remove.

Use brackets around any database paths/names or table names that have space
in them. "

Then there is an OK box to click, and that is all. This is all just an info
box. Clciking OK produces no result. Nowhere to enter any database or table
names. I don't get it. What am I supposed to do?

 

[Tom Wickerath]

Hi Robirdman,

Could it be because the command prompt is typed not from the root directory.

Yes, I think so. I am able to duplicate this error message when I attempt to
run this file from a command prompt, and I'm not in the same folder that the
two files are saved in. Have you tried running it from within Windows, by
clicking on Start > Run and then entering this:

C:\temp\sysfld40 slides13.mdb

I can't remember how to back out of this to the root if necessary.

Use CD.. (CD double dot). That will Change Directory to the parent folder.
When you are at the C:\ prompt, then issue a CD Temp command.


Tom

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

Thanks very much for the detailed instructions. I don't know why I am
getting "runtime error 3024 Could not find the file 'slides13.mdb'

I put this file, slides13.mdb and sysfld40 into a folder on the root
directory, as advised (C:\TEMP) I tried several times and I get this error
message. I opened slides13 from the Temp directory and it opens normally. I
retyped its name, slides13 in case there was any doubt, but it doesn't find
the file sitting in the same directory.

Could it be because the command prompt is typed not from the root directory.

I am typing C:\temp\sysfld40 slides13.mdb
But by default I am in the directory C:\documents and settings ..etc
I can't remember how to back out of this to the root if necessary.
Thanks much

Hi Robirdman

You need to run Michael's utility either from a command line prompt, or from
the Start > Run menu. I recommend placing a copy of the executable,
SysFld40.exe, and your database into a temporary folder, such as C:\Temp. It
would probably be best if the name of your database does not include any
spaces. Here is an example for a database named "MyDatabase.mdb", after
placing a copy of this file and the executable file in the C:\Temp folder. Of
course, you must have write privileges for the folder in question:

Click on Start > Run. Enter the following command:

c:\temp\sysfld40 MyDatabase.mdb

Note the single space that separates the database name from the rest of the
entry. After you are finished, I recommend importing all objects into a new
container database, because Michael's utility does not remove any fields from
the normally hidden system tables (tables whose names start with MSYS).


Tom

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

Thanks for the info, but I am stuck. Iwent to the site and downloaded the
Jet 4, unzipped it an clicked on the file, I get a box saying :

"Replication system fields removal utility.
sysfld40.exe <database name> [,<tableName1>,...<TableNameN>

To handle all tables in a given database, do not specigy any table names,
other wise give the name of each table whose system fields you wish to remove.

Use brackets around any database paths/names or table names that have space
in them. "

Then there is an OK box to click, and that is all. This is all just an info
box. Clciking OK produces no result. Nowhere to enter any database or table
names. I don't get it. What am I supposed to do?

 

[robirdman]

I backed out of the directory and then went to the Temo directory and typed:
c:\temp\sysfld40.exe slides13.mdb
I got no error message, but nothing seemed to happen. It just went back to
the C:\Temp prompt.

Hi Robirdman,

Could it be because the command prompt is typed not from the root directory.

Yes, I think so. I am able to duplicate this error message when I attempt to
run this file from a command prompt, and I'm not in the same folder that the
two files are saved in. Have you tried running it from within Windows, by
clicking on Start > Run and then entering this:

C:\temp\sysfld40 slides13.mdb

I can't remember how to back out of this to the root if necessary.

Use CD.. (CD double dot). That will Change Directory to the parent folder.
When you are at the C:\ prompt, then issue a CD Temp command.


Tom

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

Thanks very much for the detailed instructions. I don't know why I am
getting "runtime error 3024 Could not find the file 'slides13.mdb'

I put this file, slides13.mdb and sysfld40 into a folder on the root
directory, as advised (C:\TEMP) I tried several times and I get this error
message. I opened slides13 from the Temp directory and it opens normally. I
retyped its name, slides13 in case there was any doubt, but it doesn't find
the file sitting in the same directory.

Could it be because the command prompt is typed not from the root directory.

I am typing C:\temp\sysfld40 slides13.mdb
But by default I am in the directory C:\documents and settings ..etc
I can't remember how to back out of this to the root if necessary.
Thanks much

Hi Robirdman

You need to run Michael's utility either from a command line prompt, or from
the Start > Run menu. I recommend placing a copy of the executable,
SysFld40.exe, and your database into a temporary folder, such as C:\Temp. It
would probably be best if the name of your database does not include any
spaces. Here is an example for a database named "MyDatabase.mdb", after
placing a copy of this file and the executable file in the C:\Temp folder. Of
course, you must have write privileges for the folder in question:

Click on Start > Run. Enter the following command:

c:\temp\sysfld40 MyDatabase.mdb

Note the single space that separates the database name from the rest of the
entry. After you are finished, I recommend importing all objects into a new
container database, because Michael's utility does not remove any fields from
the normally hidden system tables (tables whose names start with MSYS).


Tom

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

:

Thanks for the info, but I am stuck. Iwent to the site and downloaded the
Jet 4, unzipped it an clicked on the file, I get a box saying :

"Replication system fields removal utility.
sysfld40.exe <database name> [,<tableName1>,...<TableNameN>

To handle all tables in a given database, do not specigy any table names,
other wise give the name of each table whose system fields you wish to remove.

Use brackets around any database paths/names or table names that have space
in them. "

Then there is an OK box to click, and that is all. This is all just an info
box. Clciking OK produces no result. Nowhere to enter any database or table
names. I don't get it. What am I supposed to do?

 

[robirdman]

Previously, I had gotten frustrated and copied the tables into a new database
and I somehow deleted the extra fields in each table. I checked the field
properties in the most important tables and changed a few to match the
original. I had to reset a primary key. The size of the database did not
diminish much though and was 137K.
Now I made a new database and copied all the tables, queries, forms and
reports. I checked the field properties of the main table, slides with
100,000+ records and found the only difference was losing the primary key
status, which I changed back. The size of the database reduced to 48K, and
has a tremendous increase in speed for queries and reports. Visibly, nothing
seems different, but a huge amount of hidden something is gone.

I backed out of the directory and then went to the Temo directory and typed:
c:\temp\sysfld40.exe slides13.mdb
I got no error message, but nothing seemed to happen. It just went back to
the C:\Temp prompt.

Hi Robirdman,

Could it be because the command prompt is typed not from the root directory.

Yes, I think so. I am able to duplicate this error message when I attempt to
run this file from a command prompt, and I'm not in the same folder that the
two files are saved in. Have you tried running it from within Windows, by
clicking on Start > Run and then entering this:

C:\temp\sysfld40 slides13.mdb

I can't remember how to back out of this to the root if necessary.

Use CD.. (CD double dot). That will Change Directory to the parent folder.
When you are at the C:\ prompt, then issue a CD Temp command.


Tom

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

Thanks very much for the detailed instructions. I don't know why I am
getting "runtime error 3024 Could not find the file 'slides13.mdb'

I put this file, slides13.mdb and sysfld40 into a folder on the root
directory, as advised (C:\TEMP) I tried several times and I get this error
message. I opened slides13 from the Temp directory and it opens normally. I
retyped its name, slides13 in case there was any doubt, but it doesn't find
the file sitting in the same directory.

Could it be because the command prompt is typed not from the root directory.

I am typing C:\temp\sysfld40 slides13.mdb
But by default I am in the directory C:\documents and settings ..etc
I can't remember how to back out of this to the root if necessary.
Thanks much

:

Hi Robirdman

You need to run Michael's utility either from a command line prompt, or from
the Start > Run menu. I recommend placing a copy of the executable,
SysFld40.exe, and your database into a temporary folder, such as C:\Temp. It
would probably be best if the name of your database does not include any
spaces. Here is an example for a database named "MyDatabase.mdb", after
placing a copy of this file and the executable file in the C:\Temp folder. Of
course, you must have write privileges for the folder in question:

Click on Start > Run. Enter the following command:

c:\temp\sysfld40 MyDatabase.mdb

Note the single space that separates the database name from the rest of the
entry. After you are finished, I recommend importing all objects into a new
container database, because Michael's utility does not remove any fields from
the normally hidden system tables (tables whose names start with MSYS).


Tom

http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/expert_contributors.html
http://www.access.qbuilt.com/html/search.html
__________________________________________

:

Thanks for the info, but I am stuck. Iwent to the site and downloaded the
Jet 4, unzipped it an clicked on the file, I get a box saying :

"Replication system fields removal utility.
sysfld40.exe <database name> [,<tableName1>,...<TableNameN>

To handle all tables in a given database, do not specigy any table names,
other wise give the name of each table whose system fields you wish to remove.

Use brackets around any database paths/names or table names that have space
in them. "

Then there is an OK box to click, and that is all. This is all just an info
box. Clciking OK produces no result. Nowhere to enter any database or table
names. I don't get it. What am I supposed to do?