Migrating my access 97 databases to Access 2003 db

[Mike]

I am migrating from Access 97 to Access 2003. I converted an access 97 file
to Access 03 db. the size of the Access 97 file was 7,778KB where as the
converted access 03 file size was 2,736KB. When I compared with a db
comparision tool for the differences b/n the two db's, it showed a difference
in table structure of memo field and unicode compression.

My question is: Is the reduced size in the Access 03 file due to unicode
compression or due to some other reason. Please some one clarify.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[Rick Brandt]

I am migrating from Access 97 to Access 2003. I converted an access 97 file
to Access 03 db. the size of the Access 97 file was 7,778KB where as the
converted access 03 file size was 2,736KB. When I compared with a db
comparision tool for the differences b/n the two db's, it showed a difference
in table structure of memo field and unicode compression.

My question is: Is the reduced size in the Access 03 file due to unicode
compression or due to some other reason. Please some one clarify.

When was the last time you compacted the 97 file? My guess is it would be
smaller than the 2003 file afterwards. I don't think any version of Access
produces smaller files than the versions prior to it.

 

[david epsom dot com dot au]

A problem in A97 and later versions is that the VBA project does
not compact properly. Use the /decompile command line option for
MSACCESS.EXE to discard unused compiled code from the VBA project.
Like with a Jet compact, you may loose damaged items in this process.

If you have not done this before, you may see a large change in the
size of the MDB.

You can also get the same effect by importing everything into a
new database: A2003 or A97.

Because A97 has no unicode support, your A97 database has no unicode text in
it.
So unicode compression cannot make your database smaller when you convert
from A97 to A2003

(david)

 

[Mike]

This database has been given to me by the user. And I am not sure if it has
been already compacted before being given to me. However, I have not
compacted the database. Instead I just converted this file having size
7,778KB using the MS Access 03 -->Tools-->Database Utilities--> Convert
database--> Access 2002-2003 file format.
The resultant file size was 2,736KB.

Has some functionality/data lost in the conversion process?

Thanks

Mike

 

[Rick Brandt]

This database has been given to me by the user. And I am not sure if it has
been already compacted before being given to me. However, I have not
compacted the database. Instead I just converted this file having size
7,778KB using the MS Access 03 -->Tools-->Database Utilities--> Convert
database--> Access 2002-2003 file format.
The resultant file size was 2,736KB.

Has some functionality/data lost in the conversion process?

Doubtful if it converted without errors. Access files will tend to grow as
they are used. Unless they are periodically compacted they can end up much
larger than the size of their internal objects would normally take. I'm
simply suggesting that the file might have been somewhat "bloated" when it
was given to you. The conversion process automatically compacts the new
file so it is likely the compacting that resulted in the smaller file size,
not the conversion itself.