Compact/Repair a Database Too Much?

[MDW]

Hey all -

I have what may be a silly question. I'm aware (and have
seen firsthand) the benefits that can be reaped by
compacting an Access 97 database. I'm actually toying with
the idea of building a tool that will automatically do
that every day.

My question is, could doing that (compacting it every day)
damage the database in any way?

Also - unless I get an error message dealing with a
corruption, would there be any reason for me to repair the
database?

Thx.

 

[Bruce M. Thompson]

I have what may be a silly question. I'm aware (and have

seen firsthand) the benefits that can be reaped by
compacting an Access 97 database. I'm actually toying with
the idea of building a tool that will automatically do
that every day.

My question is, could doing that (compacting it every day)
damage the database in any way?

Although there is *some* risk, it's likely not much more of a risk than opening
the file to use it.

Also - unless I get an error message dealing with a
corruption, would there be any reason for me to repair the
database?

No. Repairing the database in Access 97 or earlier is not recommended unless you
are prompted to do so while compacting.

 

[MDW]

-----Original Message-----

Although there is *some* risk, it's likely not much more of a risk than opening
the file to use it.

That's reassuring. *L*

Seriously, thanks for the info. As a follow-up - is an
Access 97 database likely to NEED compacting daily (if we
assume moderate use), as opposed to something like weekly?
In other words, do you think the benefits would outweight
what risk there is to compact the thing every day?

 

[Bruce M. Thompson]

Seriously, thanks for the info. As a follow-up - is an

Access 97 database likely to NEED compacting daily (if we
assume moderate use), as opposed to something like weekly?
In other words, do you think the benefits would outweight
what risk there is to compact the thing every day?

Some bloating is normal in an MDB file and, unless you are making modifications
to the file, you really shouldn't need to compact more often than once a week
unless you are running a lot of update or append queries, importing data or
there is code that is frequently generating temporary objects (such as tables).
See the following page at Tony Toews' website for more information on this:

Bloating Front End (FE) Microsoft Access MDB/MDEs
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/bloatfe.htm