Compacting an Access Database

To ensure optimum performance, regularly compact the database if the database is used on a daily basis. Over time, as resources are updated or deleted, the database file becomes fragmented. Fragmentation wastes disk space and can impair performance. An Access database does not register a decrease in file size when assets are deleted from it until this procedure is performed. The Database Maintenance utility lets you compact a Microsoft Access database, removing unwanted records and rewriting the data to a contiguous area of the disk.

Database compact operations should not be performed on network databases. Instead, copy the database to a local workstation, compact the database, then copy it back to the network location. This ensures that network disruptions and interruptions do not interfere with the database maintenance task.

  1. Ensure that all users are logged off the system and close Silk Test Workbench.
  2. Start the Database Maintenance utility and open the database.
  3. Click Compact. A confirmation dialog box opens.
  4. Click Yes to proceed. When complete, a dialog box indicates that the database has been successfully compacted.
  5. Click OK. The database is now available for use.