File sizes

[JR]

I am creating a client database for my Accounts Receivable
(about 800 clients). Yesterday as I was working, I
suddenly got an error message and was kicked out of
Access. I was able to open Access and my database and
continue working without being able to detect anything
different. This morning when I went to resume my work, I
discovered that I now have two files. Apparently when the
error happened, Access saved the file that I was working
on as a "backup" file, and created a new file which was
the one I continued to add to yesterday. Though I didn't
notice any differences as I worked, I am concerned because
the new file is only 2,672 KB, and the backup file is
12,636 KB. Can someone tell me why my new file would be
so much smaller? Would it be safe to continue using the
smaller file since that file contains a lot of new data
that is not in the old file? Thank you for any assistance
you can give me.
JR

 

[Victor Delgadillo]

File size per-se does not indicate the amount or quality of data contained,
because Access has a process of 'reserving space' when adding records to a
database. In particular, if the database suffered a trauma closing, which
may have made it reserve an unusually large amount of file space.
I would open and check both and make sure the one with the correct (or more
complete set) of data is left in place. Also, you should make periodically a
backup of the data-holding file, because tables, indices, and the like are
easily damaged, as well as hard disk surface and other glitches that may
damage a file... When it's the only copy you are left with nothing if
something happens to the ONLY copy.

As a rule, make copies of the files, preferrably in another media, (CD,
Tape, Floppies, to a Server, from a Server, etc.). That way if something
really critical happens to your working copy, you can always restore the
file and just replace the last missing entries or modifications.