Jan 12

Microsoft Access Database Compact and Repair to Minimize Corruption and Avoid Bloat (by Access Version)

File server databases like Access/JET MDB and ACCDB files need to be periodically compacted and repaired for optimal performance and to minimize database corruption. This also eliminates database bloat that can occur as data is added and deleted in the database.

Microsoft Access databases can be manually compacted from the Access menu. Unfortunately, over the last few versions of Access, the location of this command has moved around driving Access many users and developers crazy. Read our paper on Microsoft Access Database Compact and Repair to Minimize Corruption and Avoid Bloat (by Access Version).

Jan 12

Automatically Compact and Repair Microsoft Access Databases with Compact On Close

Microsoft Access/Jet databases require routine maintenance to ensure reliability, integrity, and efficiency. You can manually compact and repair a database. However, you can save yourself some time and effort by configuring your database to automatically do this every time it closes. Read the issues and limitations around this Microsoft Access feature Automatically Compact and Repair Microsoft Access Databases with Compact On Close.

Jan 12

Create a Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan for Microsoft Access Database Applications

Microsoft Access Backup Disaster Recovery PlanIf you create or take over a Microsoft Access application from someone else, you become responsible for the data in addition to the application and its queries, forms, reports, macros, and module code. Unanticipated disasters can occur, so it’s important to prepare before they happen. The amount of effort and investment to spend for disaster recovery varies with the value of the application, but some basics apply to all applications.

A Disaster Recovery Plan is much more than making backups of your database. And if your backups are on the same machine and/or hard disk as your production database, that doesn’t qualify.

Read our paper on Creating a Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan for Microsoft Access Database Applications for ways to limit your risk and headaches, while providing a professional solution for your end-users, boss, and clients.

Jan 04

Total Access Admin for Microsoft Access 2010 is Shipping

Total Access Admin lets you monitor your Microsoft Access databases to see who’s currently in it. It’s ideal for understanding who’s currently connected, compacting databases after everyone has exited it, and troubleshooting multi-user problems.

The Total Access Admin 2010 supports Microosft Access 2010 and 2007. In addition to supporting Access 2010, it now lets you monitor multiple databases in one screen. You can perform actions across all the databases, watch the activity in real time, log the users entering and exiting each database, and compact the database after everyone exits. Visit the New Features page for all the enhancements.

Total Access Admin 2003, version 11.5, is also released for Access 2003 and earlier.

Free Trial versions of both versions are available.