ACC1x: Database Corruption Error After Large Action Query

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1

SYMPTOMS

Running a large action query, or importing a large number of records (resulting in a table size of approximately 80 MB or more), results in the error message:

   '|' is corrupt or isn't a Microsoft Access database

CAUSE

This error occurs if Microsoft Access runs out of the memory it has allocated to keep track of a table's indexes while you are inserting keys into an index.

RESOLUTION

When this memory space is completely filled, Microsoft Access cannot proceed with the append, and it cannot discard the new information that has been temporarily stored. Microsoft Access knows that the task has not been completed successfully, and assumes that the database is corrupted. However, because nothing was actually written to the database, the data is not damaged. You can compact the database to make the data usable again.

For example, to carry out a large append, remove the table's indexes, complete the append, and then add the indexes again. Be sure not to remove the primary key if it is a Counter, because you could encounter the 4-MB transaction limit when you attempt to add the Counter key back to the table.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access versions 1.0 and 1.1. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Access version 2.0.