converting large database from 2000 to 97

[Lori]

I have two files, 62 MB and 82 MB, that when I try to
convert from 2000 to 97 I get an error message "record is
too large." Even after compressing to become 17 MB and 36
MB, I get the same message. These databases are made up
of tables and relationships only. I have another database
that is 46 MB that converts fine. It is critical that I
have a 97 and 2000 version of these databases. Any
solution? Thank you for the help.

 

[Roger Carlson]

This error is not referring to file size, but record size. One difference
between A97 and A2000 is in how it stores text fields. A2000 stores them in
unicode. Perhaps this is causing the problem. Make sure each of your Text
fields has the Unicode Compression property set to Yes.

 

[John Nurick]

Since it's a question of converting from 2000 to 97 could it be the
other way round? As I understand it, both Access 2000 and Access 97 have
a nominal limit on the size of a record of 2000 characters (excluding
the contents of OLE and memo fields) - but in Access 2000 those are
2-byte (Unicode) characters while in Access 97 they are 1-byte.

If so, Unicode compression would (putting it simplistically) make it
possible for Access 2000 to store more than 2000 two-byte characters of
English or another western language in the 4000 bytes. Convert this to
Access 97, and there'd be more than 2000 one-byte characters to fit into
a 2000 character record.