Access Auto-Backup - Backup File Much Larger than Non-Backup!

[Chris Gilpin]

Hey everybody.

While running a Query, Access crashed (The 'Send Error Report' window came up)

I clicked the option to have access repair and reopen my database. Now in the database folder, I notice two documents. One is the original file name, and the second is the original file name_Backup.

I assume Access made this backup while it was repairing my database, but the question is: The original file has now shrunk in size to about 160megs while the backup has retained its original size of about 300megs.

I quickly checked the number of records and none appear to be missing, although I haven't yet checked the integrity of each entry.

Should I be worried? How can Access drastically reduce the file size without (hopefully) losing data?

On a side note, while opening the tables, the opened much faster on the non-backup version as well.

[Chris Gilpin]

Found an answer from here for anyone who is interested:

http://www.databasedev.co.uk/compacting-and-repairing-ms-access.html

[jaegertw2]

Should I be worried? How can Access drastically reduce the file size without (hopefully) losing data?

On a side note, while opening the tables, the opened much faster on the non-backup version as well.

When tables are deleted in Access, the space allocated for them remains. This means, in many cases, the tables can be restored if the are accidently deleted. That space is cleared by using the 'Compact and Repair Database' option in Database Utilities, under the Tools menu. I was debugging someone else's database that started at 30 megs or so. By compacting it, it went down to less than 4. The backup most likely kept the deleted tables, forms, etc. in case you wanted to get them back later.

Cheers,

Thomas