How to compress an MS Access database

Question

I have an .mdb file which is 70MB.

After deleting all records contained in the file, the size remains 70MB.

How do I make my .mdb f

Answer 1

The Microsoft Access database engine provides a CompactDatabase method that makes a compact copy of the database file. The database file must be closed before calling CompactDatabase.

Documentation:

• Pages on microsoft.com about "Compact and Repair Database"
• DBEngine.CompactDatabase Method (DAO)

Here's a Python script that uses DAO to copy and compact MDB files:

import os.path
import sys
import win32com.client

# Access 97: DAO.DBEngine.35
# Access 2000/2003: DAO.DBEngine.36
# Access 2007: DAO.DBEngine.120
daoEngine = win32com.client.Dispatch('DAO.DBEngine.36')

if len(sys.argv) != 3:
    print("Uses Microsoft DAO to copy the database file and compact it.")
    print("Usage: %s DB_FILE FILE_TO_WRITE" % os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]))
    sys.exit(2)

(src_db_path, dest_db_path) = sys.argv[1:]
print('Using database "%s", compacting to "%s"' % (src_db_path, dest_db_path))
daoEngine.CompactDatabase(src_db_path, dest_db_path)
print("Done")