What is this file that Access creates???

[Juliet]

We have a custom written database that runs in Microsoft Access 2003. The
database is a file called "Express Medical" and it is a .mdb file.

This is the ONLY file I have had for years and when I backup the entire
database I am supposed to simply save this file onto my external hard drive
and/or flash drive. Very simple.

But today when I did that I noticed something strange. I no longer ONLY have
that one file but it created another second file. This file is also called
"Express Medical" but it is a .ldb file (aka Microsoft Access Record Locking
Information).

What on earth is that and is it safe for me to delete that file???

Thanks.

 

[Dale Fye]

Juliet,

Access creates the ldb file whenever the application is open. However, if
you close your application normally, it will be deleted when the application
is closed. The fact that this file exists after when you application is
closed implies that the last time you ran the application, if failed to close
properly.

As long as the application is closed, and no one else has another copy open,
you should be able to delete the ldb file without any negative consequences.

--
HTH
Dale

email address is invalid
Please reply to newsgroup only.

 

[John W. Vinson]

We have a custom written database that runs in Microsoft Access 2003. The
database is a file called "Express Medical" and it is a .mdb file.

This is the ONLY file I have had for years and when I backup the entire
database I am supposed to simply save this file onto my external hard drive
and/or flash drive. Very simple.

But today when I did that I noticed something strange. I no longer ONLY have
that one file but it created another second file. This file is also called
"Express Medical" but it is a .ldb file (aka Microsoft Access Record Locking
Information).

What on earth is that and is it safe for me to delete that file???

Thanks.

It is just that - a record locking file. It keeps track of who has which
records open so that multiple users can access the same database. If nobody is
currently in the database it's safe to delete it; normally Access deletes it
when the last user exits, but someone might have crashed out and left it
around.

It may be prudent to check that you have a current backup, and use Tools...
Database Utilities... Compact and Repair to be sure that someone didn't leave
the database in a corrupted state.

 

[rumkus]

is it safe for me to delete that file???
Yes.

 

[Larry Linson]

We have a custom written database is a file called
"Express Medical" and it is a .mdb file.

This is the ONLY file I have had for years and when
I backup the entire database I am supposed to simply
save this file onto my external hard drive and/or flash
drive. Very simple.

You did not, perhaps, _realize_ you had an .LDB file, but Access has created
one (at least) since the days of Access 2.0 -- it is automatic.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Office Access

 

[David W. Fenton]

You did not, perhaps, _realize_ you had an .LDB file, but Access
has created one (at least) since the days of Access 2.0 -- it is
automatic.

And if she used Access 2, the LDB was never deleted after the MDB
was closed, as it has been since Access 95 (and it was actually a
good alteration of Access behavior, as it prevents corruption from
accumulating in the LDB file).

 

[Aaron]

We have a custom written database that runs in Microsoft Access 2003. The
database is a file called "Express Medical" and it is a .mdb file.

This is the ONLY file I have had for years and when I backup the entire
database I am supposed to simply save this file onto my external hard
drive
and/or flash drive. Very simple.

But today when I did that I noticed something strange. I no longer ONLY
have
that one file but it created another second file. This file is also called
"Express Medical" but it is a .ldb file (aka Microsoft Access Record
Locking
Information).

What on earth is that and is it safe for me to delete that file???

Thanks.

HELLO