mdbMaint is a backup and compaction utility for Microsoft Access databases. view a screen-shot

Frequent compaction of Access databases (.mdb files) is crucial to their health. As a byproduct of use, mdb files bloat over time. This results in decreased performance and an increased potential for corruption. For more information on the benefits of compacting your database, refer to the Microsoft KnowledgeBase article 209769

Typically, the database file server does not have Access installed on it, and compacting across the network is a dodgy proposition. Installing Access on the server requires an additional software license. This approach incurs unnecessary cost, since Access is not otherwise needed on the server. You could install the Access runtime version, and write your own compaction routine, but, in addition to the work involved, you may also have to contend with .dll versioning problems. Aside from those issues, all users must be disconnected from the database before compaction can begin. Recent versions of Access provide a "compact on close" option. Setting this option usually results in an unacceptable lag for the last person closing an application attached to the database, and performs the compact procedure across the network.

Paradigm's mdbMaint solves these problems and others. mdbMaint provides a simple solution for both compacting and backing up Access data files.

• Neither Access nor the Access runtime need be installed
• Can be scheduled to run at any time of day using the Windows task scheduler
• Maintains a rotating archive of backup files
• User configurable number of backup files to archive
• Creates backup files prior to compacting, providing for disaster recovery
• Backup to the same machine or any network share
• The database is never opened, allowing mdbMaint to recover some corrupted databases that can not otherwise be opened
• Supports Access versions 2.0, 95, 97, 2000, 2002 & 2003

$49.95