Form Shows Very Slowly

[Joe Cletcher]

Application name Microsoft Access
Version 11.0
Build 6566
ADO version 2.8
VBA version 6.04
Database size 28388.0 KB
Jet version 4.0

I have 23 forms designed in a front-end Access 2003 database. All the data
in the back-end Access 2003 database requires less than 1 Mbyte of hard drive
space while the front-end requires over 25 Mbytes of hard drive space.

The problem I am experiencing is very slow activation (showing) for 3 of the
23 forms. These forms are even very slow showing when asked to open in design
view--in fact, no discernible difference in opening between design and in
form views. Once open in form view, I can quickly move through records. There
is not anything special with these forms--does anyone know what the problem
may be? Also, when I edit any of the 23 forms, the front-end doubles in size
to about 50 Mbytes--"repairing and compacting" brings the file size back down
to about 25 Mbytes.

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

It sounds like you have some serious bloat issue here..

I have medium sized appcation. The stats are:

number of Forms = 163
number of Reports = 77
number of modules = 23
number of Queries = 191

Total lines of code = 28,000

The total size of the above appcation is less then 7 megs in size as a mde.
when I use WinZip, the whole appcation fits on a single floppy disk.

So, looking at your database size, it really is out of line....

I suspect that you have placed, or are using some graphic images for the
background of your forms. You REALLY have to decide hard if a huge
multi-megabyte sized forms that load slow is worth it due to using a
graphics file for the background. I recommend you don't do this...

some tips for performance can be found here:

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

And, some bloat issues are identified here:
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/bloatfe.htm

 

[Joe Cletcher]

Thanks, this appears to be my problem. One of the references in the second
URL you provided some insight (see "Database bloat is not stopped by
compacting database with Access 2002 format").

 

[Joe Cletcher]

The bloat was caused by a "Startup" and a "MainSwitchBoard" form that had an
embedded JPG graphics file of about 0.5 MBytes--once embedded they were
approximately 10.0 Mbytes each. Solution was to link the graphics files
rather than embed. Improved load speed also.

Two of the forms still load very slowly when commanded by the user. I'll
address that in another forum question when I know more about the symptoms.

Thanks, again.