Does Access store data in fixed lenght or variable length format

[Dennis]

Hi,

This is just for my own education and curiosity. Does anyone know if Access
stores it data records in a fixed length or variable length records / rows?

I realize that the answer is some what immaterial as it works the way it
does, but as I said I would like to know for my own knowledge.

Thanks,

 

[Dorian]

it depends on the Access version and on the data type....
text and memo fields are variable.
However, nothing is guaranteed since Microsoft can change the internal
workings at any time so long as compatibility is maintained. For instance the
storage method changed between 2000 and 2003 versions.
Basically, don't concern yourself with it.
if you want to experiment, set up a db with one table and one column and put
different data in the column. Do a compact and see how the file size changes.
-- Dorian
"Give someone a fish and they eat for a day; teach someone to fish and they
eat for a lifetime".

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

if you want to experiment, set up a db with one table and one column and put
different data in the column. Do a compact and see how the file size changes.

Note that MDB/ACCDB sizes are in multiples of 2K or 4K depending on
the version of Access so that won't necessarily help a lot.d

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Tony's Main MS Access pages - http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/
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