4 Different Ways to Use “Compact and Repair” Feature to Solve Access Database Corruption

In this article we take a look at dealing with issues of database corruption using the Compact and Repair function available in Ms Access.

Access database files over a period of time become bloated and vulnerable to data corruption. Incidents of data corruption can also occur due to resource conflicts, logical errors etc. In fact Ms Access database has a significant propensity to get corrupted and to address the issue Microsoft has provided a built-in function called Compact and Repair. While using MS Access you do not have to worry about finding out the right time for using this feature to repair your corrupted database. It is advanced enough to automatically prompt you in-case it suspects a possibility of a corrupted database. If any of the databases you attempt to open is corrupted, you will see a warning, and it will ask you, if you want to repair the corrupted database. You can either choose to repair the file manually or let the system do it automatically. After a database has been repaired, you will see a pop up about the successful repair of the database, asking you to check for any kind of database changes.

There are two different ways in which you can use the Compact and Repair feature on your corrupted databases. You can either use it automatically, or implement the feature manually. The steps for both are as follows:

1.Using Compact and Repair Automatically

You can choose to automatically apply the feature on a database when it closes, the steps for the same are:

1. Press the Microsoft Office Button and then choose Access Options.
2. The Access Option dialog box will open, from this dialogue box, select Current Databases.
3. In the Applications Options, select the check box next to Compact on Close.

2.Choose to Manually Compact and Repair a Compromised Access Database

To use this feature manually, you first have to decide whether you want to apply it on closed databases or open databases. Once you have made your choice, follow these steps.

3.Manually applying Compact and Repair on Closed Databases

1. Launch the Ms Access application, without opening the database you want to repair.
2. Press Microsoft Office Button.
3. Point towards Manage and select Manage this Database.
4. Click on Compact and Repair Database option.
5. The Database to Compact form dialog box will open before you. From this dialogue box, select the database you want to repair.

It is important to note that if any user is accessing the database, the repair will not take place; in other words while the repair is on no one can use the database.

4.Manually applying Compact and Repair function on an Open Database

1. Press the Microsoft Office Button.
2. Point towards Manage, and select Manage this Database.
3. Click on Compact and Repair Database.

It is important to note that if multiple users are working on the database, this operation will not take place.

Plan for situations where the Compact and Repair Database fails to recover a corrupted MDB file

There may be cases where the Compact and Repair option fails to recover the corrupted Access data file. In such a scenario you should immediately call in an Access file repair tool like DataNumen Access Repair. This powerful application can swing into action and recover the contents of a compromised MDB file within minutes. Moreover the application has the prowess to handle an array of storage media types including flash media drives.

Author Introduction:

Vivian Stevens is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, Inc., which is the world leader in data recovery technologies, including repair mdf error and excel recovery software products. For more information visit www.datanumen.com