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ACCESS TIP - Compact and Repair a Database
Potentially Dangerous

Background:
After you make lots of additions and changes to objects within a database file, especially additions and deletions of large amounts of data in tables - the database file can become disorganized. When you delete a record, you don't automatically regain the space in the file that the deleted data occupied.

Warning:
The compaction process described below may cause damage to the database. Databases damaged in the compaction process are unlikely to be repairable. So when you compact a database, name the compacted version something different from the original. That way, if something bad happens, you can always go back to your original version.

Problem:
Your Access file seems very large, or maybe it runs sluggishly, or may give you error messages. The compact and repair utility in the Access program may fix these problems.

How to Compact and Repair:

• Start Access but DO NOT OPEN the Access file you wish to compact.
• Menu: Tools, Database Utilities, Compact and Repair Database...
  
• Select the Access file you wish to compact
  Click Compact
  
• In the resulting File name box, type a name that is slightly different from your original filename
  
  Example: ITS Reserve Collection.mdb --> ITS Reserve Collection 2.mdb
  
  
• Click Save
  
  If all was successful, the Compact Data Into dialog box disappears. It appears as if nothing happened.
  
• Open the compacted version.
  
  Example: ITS Reserve Collection 2.mdb
  
  If the database works as expected, great. If not, close the compacted version and open the original.