MDE & FE Size

[Kerry Purdy]

Hiya

I have a database using the FrontEnd BackEnd design. My FrontEnd is 44meg!!
it consists of:-

Tables:- 27 local tables (all emptied of data on exit), 22 linked tables, 1
linked spreadsheet

Queries: - 160
Forms:- 45
Reports:- 30
Macros: - 56
Modules:- 10

I guess that the local tables could be created/stored in the back end and
linked to the front - that would prob save some space - shall I do this?

I have read about MDE files but I am not sure what they are or how they help.

I would appreciate some advise please.

Many thanks for your time.

Kerry

 

[Norman Yuan]

The FE size bloating is very likely the result of emtying local tables on
exit: it is well-known feature of Jet database: inserting and then deleting
records increase *.mdb/*.mde file size.

Place those local table to BE will not avoid *.mdb size bloating if you have
to constantly populate and then clear them. In that case, you also need to
regularly compact the BE. Actually, compacting *.mdb file is simply a common
process to most Jet database.

Since you use local table and clear it regularly, you need to compact the FE
regularly. If the FE is installed in each user's box (it should be), you
could set Access to do the compact on exit automatically.

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Consider putting the local tables into a 2nd temporary back-end database.

Tony Toews has an example of this at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/temptables.htm

Do you have much in the way of graphics on your forms and reports? If so,
how did you add them?

 

[Kerry Purdy]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your replies. I have moved the local table to the BE, linked
them to the FE and altered the make table queries accordingly. This has only
shrunk my FE by 0.5mb so its still 43.5mb. Both FE & BE are set to compact on
close.
I have 3 reports which show a 1-page map & directions on the 2nd page - this
is set as an embeded object in each.

I have 2 reports with an embedded and linked word file as their 2nd page.

No other graphics in the database.

I have 2 users who can no longer use this system as their PC are so slow it
cannot handle the size of the FE.

Any other ideas?

Thanks very much

 

[Kerry Purdy]

Hiya

Just another note, I have moved all my FE objects into a new FE. It has
reduced my FE to 42mb. What does an MDE do? Is that worth a shot?

Thanks very much.

Kerry

 

[aaron.kempf]

you kids are hilarious

move your application to an Access Data Project and you won't need to
worry about emailing 42 mb files

keep all of your data IN ONE PLACE - in sql server.
you don't have to compact / repair; copy queries.. refresh / relink..
setup DSN..

you don't need to lookup connection strings, you dont need to use
Tony's double-split crap.. or Tony's front end updater.

Keep your tables and queries IN ONE PLACE - using Access Data Projects


I mean seriously here
how long have you been dealing with this crappy FE / BE so called
'architecture'

I would fire the arctitect and SPIT ON ANYONE THAT USES MDB FOR
ANYTHING

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

The size is likely because of the embedded objects. Put them outside of the
database, and link to them.

 

[aaron.kempf]

or use Access Data Projects

if you didn't use a wussie database engine you could keep these objects
inside the database

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

I have 160 forms, 193 quires (that could be reduced a lot).
77 reports. 23 code modules.

There is also about 30,000 lines of code.

So, it is medium sized appcation. The full size of the front end is only 7.6
megs.

as a mde, it is only 6.4 megs, and when zipped up, it fits on one floppy
disk!!!

So, my application is only 7.6 megs in size (access 2003).

You must have imagines, or backgrounds for your forms. When you compare the
size my application, I have 3 times the number of forms, and double the
number of reports. yes, I have 7.6 megs, and you have 44 megs.

There is something wrong here, my bets are you have background images on
your forms....

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

What does an MDE do? Is that worth a shot?

well, just go tools->database utilities->make mde

A mde is what you normally distribute as a front end to EACH pc. The source
code is stripped, and the mde is a "complied" version of your application.
This tends to make your application load faster, the code runs faster, and
it will not become un-compiled (which can eliminate bloat).

In addition to the mde being smaller, users also can't modify forms, or
code. And, a mde also forces you to ensure that all code compiles BEFORE you
distrbite it (a great last minute check it forces on you).

Anyway, your appcation should be far under 10 megs in size.....

 

[susiedba]

mde ISN'T WORTH TEN MINUTES

move your app to Access Data Projects and you won't have all this other
crap.

Technically; when you link to an ODBC datasource, Access MDB builds
_SOME_ MDB-side indexes.. I'm not saying that it ONLY uses these
indexes-- MDB just thinks that it can help you out by storing some of
this information on the desktop.

HELPFUL, ISNT IT???

ROFL

If you have 20 linked tables in an MDB you easily could have an extra
20 MB of DEAD WEIGHT.

NOW IS THE TIME TO THROW AWAY MDB; IT IS A PARODY; CONTINUOUS
WORKAROUNDS.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Use Access Data Projects you fucking retards

 

[aaron.kempf]

by the way; don't forget to run a seperate security audit on the data
that you're storing on the DESKTOP

with the prevalence of spyware / malware / adware.. keeping sensitive
data in multiple places should be frowned upon..

but of course you kids have the mental capacity of a 1st grader-- since
you're using MDB-- so you probably didn't occur to you that it is a
security risk to keep 'some tables' on your frontend

what happens when Donald has his car broken into and his laptop stolen?
Do you want your company to have to announce that they had a security
violation- just because you have this SPLIT FRONTEND / BACKEND crap?

 

[Tony Toews]

I have a database using the FrontEnd BackEnd design. My FrontEnd is 44meg!!
it consists of:-

Have you ever decompiled?

Decompile or how to reduce Microsoft Access MDB/MDE size and decrease
start-up times
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/decompile.htm

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm