How Can You Protect Your Access Database From Getting Corrupt?
Lisa Mills
November 07, 2009
All access users must have experienced database corruption whenever the access client unexpectedly disconnects. This sets up a "corruption flag" in the .mdb file that is an indicator of database corruption. If you try to open your file during this stage, you will get an error message and the database will then have to be repaired for future use. You can also lose a good amount of your data due to file corruption. In this article, we give you few tips to minimize the chances of data getting loss due to corruption of access database.
The best thing to do is to split your database into two parts: front end and the back-end. All the forms, reports and queries are contained in the front end while the data tables are present in the beck end. Then you can save the copy of front-end on the computer of each user and store the back-end in a shared folder on the network. Now all that needs to be traversed through the network is the data table .This reduction in the amount of data that is to be traversed back and forth reduces the chances o database corruption. Other thing that you can do is don´t hold your connections in an open state. The connections should be closed the very moment they are not in use. You can only leave connections open for a long time when they are being used inside a loop. Also remember to close the access application as soon as its use is over because is a network connection is lost while access is still open, it can cause file corruption.
It is also important that you exit your access application in the correct manner. Ctrl-Alt-Delete/End Task can destroy Access databases. Therefore you must exit access using File - Exit menu option or alternative Exit option provided by the application. The access application can fail even if a slightest packet of information is lost. Therefore, make sure that you are using a good branded network card instead of some cheap card fitted in your PC.
Lastly, it is recommended that you carry out the built-in compact and repair functions at regular intervals. This improves your access database´s performance. If you can get some software that can automate the built-in compact and repair utility so that you can do it hassle free, then it is great!
The best thing to do is to split your database into two parts: front end and the back-end. All the forms, reports and queries are contained in the front end while the data tables are present in the beck end. Then you can save the copy of front-end on the computer of each user and store the back-end in a shared folder on the network. Now all that needs to be traversed through the network is the data table .This reduction in the amount of data that is to be traversed back and forth reduces the chances o database corruption. Other thing that you can do is don´t hold your connections in an open state. The connections should be closed the very moment they are not in use. You can only leave connections open for a long time when they are being used inside a loop. Also remember to close the access application as soon as its use is over because is a network connection is lost while access is still open, it can cause file corruption.
It is also important that you exit your access application in the correct manner. Ctrl-Alt-Delete/End Task can destroy Access databases. Therefore you must exit access using File - Exit menu option or alternative Exit option provided by the application. The access application can fail even if a slightest packet of information is lost. Therefore, make sure that you are using a good branded network card instead of some cheap card fitted in your PC.
Lastly, it is recommended that you carry out the built-in compact and repair functions at regular intervals. This improves your access database´s performance. If you can get some software that can automate the built-in compact and repair utility so that you can do it hassle free, then it is great!
Author writes for ms access, microsoft access and access query.
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