Help

I'm running Access 97 on Windows 98. I need to make large tables and
queries with approaching but not exceeding 225 fields (columns). Access
is giving me a "too many fields" message when I try to save the table or
query although there are fewer than 255 fields. Sometimes it works and
sometimes it doesn't. For example, I was able to create one table with
169 columns, but when I tried to create a similar table with 169
(different) columns, I got the "too many fields" response. Does anyone
know what's going on here? Is the program failing?

Help is sorely needed and surely appreciated.

Thanks,

Patrick Houser

re: Help

Proteus wrote:[color=blue]
> I'm running Access 97 on Windows 98. I need to make large tables and
> queries with approaching but not exceeding 225 fields (columns). Access
> is giving me a "too many fields" message when I try to save the table or
> query although there are fewer than 255 fields. Sometimes it works and
> sometimes it doesn't. For example, I was able to create one table with
> 169 columns, but when I tried to create a similar table with 169
> (different) columns, I got the "too many fields" response. Does anyone
> know what's going on here? Is the program failing?[/color]

There are a maximum number of columns for the whole DB. It appears the
number of columns in all your tables exceeds that maximum.

Having a table w/ that many columns usually means a bad design. Read a
book on database design to help you create a better DB. I recommend
_Database Design for Mere Mortals_ (2nd edition) by Hernandez.

--
MGFoster:::mgf00 <at> earthlink <decimal-point> net
Oakland, CA (USA)

re: Help

Have you added fields, deleted them and added others? Until you do a
compact, Access doesn't update its internal counter, so it may think you've
exceeded the 255 limit when you haven't.

I have to agree with MGFoster though: I can't imagine a legitimate reason
for a properly design table with that many fields.

--
Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP
http://I.Am/DougSteele
(no e-mails, please!)



"Proteus" <ggrace@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:PL2Wd.1249$cN6.993@newsread1.news.pas.earthli nk.net...[color=blue]
> I'm running Access 97 on Windows 98. I need to make large tables and
> queries with approaching but not exceeding 225 fields (columns). Access is
> giving me a "too many fields" message when I try to save the table or
> query although there are fewer than 255 fields. Sometimes it works and
> sometimes it doesn't. For example, I was able to create one table with 169
> columns, but when I tried to create a similar table with 169 (different)
> columns, I got the "too many fields" response. Does anyone know what's
> going on here? Is the program failing?
>
> Help is sorely needed and surely appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Patrick Houser[/color]