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Ensuring Optimal Performance for Microsoft Access Database

Most Access experts would advise users to compact and repair Microsoft Access file on a regular basis so that optimum performance of the database can be ensured. This utility works to recover all the unused space created by the deletion of objects or data thereby allowing the MDB file to work more efficiently. In addition, if Access detects a problem in the MDB file even as you are working on it or when you try to open it, you will be immediately prompted to run the Compact and Repair utility. It is thus obvious that the Compact and Repair tool plays a very important role in making sure that any access recovery attempt results in minimum loss of data.

When you try to run the Compact and Repair tool, a user must have the Open/Run permissions as also Open Exclusive permission so that the tool can be run on the Access database. Here are the steps that you can take to repair an Access file that is open.
" It is possible that you are working on a database that you are sharing with other users. If you would like to run the Compact and Repair tool on your present Access database, that is located in a shared folder or is on a server, you should make sure that no other user has it open.
" Now proceed to the main Tools menu, go to Database Utilities and select Compact and Repair Database/Project.

If you would like to carry out an access recovery of a file that is not open or of a file that you are not able to access, follow these steps -
" Close all the MDB files that are currently open. Just as in the previous case, you should make sure that if you are using a shared database, none of the users have the database open.
" From the main Tools menu, go to Database Utilities and select Compact and Repair Database. At this stage, you will be asked to select the Access file that you would like to compact. Specify the file and click on Compact.
" In the Compact Database Into box that appears, you can specify the name and location of the new Access file. Click on Save.

In order to ensure that the Compact and Repair tool is run on a regular basis even if you forget to do so manually, you can choose the Compact on Close option. Every time you close the database you have been working on, the Compact and Repair tool will compact the file and fix any errors found.

In those situations where the Compact and Repair tool is unable to fix the damage caused to the Access file and you are afraid that you might lose some data permanently, you might have to turn towards third-party solutions for access recovery. One of the leading providers for such solutions is DataNumen that has created Advanced Access Repair - one of the most effective and reliable tools for recovering data from severely damaged Access files.