How to Repair Split Access Database

To improve the performance, increase the availability, and enhance the security of your Access database, you can split it into two files – a backend database file and a front end database file. The backend file contains the data in the tables, whereas the front end file contains various other objects of the database including the reports, forms, and queries. Splitting the Access database creates a smooth atmosphere when the database is being used by multiple users as every user of this environment uses a local copy of the front end database only. However, there may be times when this creates issues. In this tutorial, we take a look at how to repair split access database issues.

How to Repair Split Access Database

Sometimes, you get an error message while executing a query in your Access database or encounter issues while trying to access data from your Access database. This is because of the corruption in your Access database files (either front end or backend). Your Access database files can get corrupt due to various reasons which may range from unexpected closing of the database, hardware failures (hard drive corruption due to bad sectors, damaged network cards, etc), conflicts of any third-party software, conflicts with JET software, inconsistencies of Access and JET database engine, to multi-user access.

Since the corruption of the Access database causes inaccessibility or loss of all the data stored on the database files, thus this situation becomes really very troublesome for users. However, backup of database files (front end and backend both) works as the best remedy to come out of such disasters. However, if you do not have the backup of your Access database files, then use of in-built ‘Compact and Repair’ utility or ‘Decompile’ utility of MS Access can give meaningful results.

Compact and Repair

Before using this utility, it is recommended to close the database. In other words, you can use this utility even when no database is loaded on MS Access, hence you can try this method when your database file is not opening as well. But, this repair utility of MS Access only repairs tables, database indexes, and queries and it does not work with damaged or corrupt forms, macros, modules, VBA codes, or reports. The location of ‘Compact and Repair’ utility varies according to the version of the MS Access you are using.

· In Access 2010, go to Database Tools>> Compact and Repair Database.

· In Access 2007, Office Button>> Manage>> Compact and Repair Database.

· In Access 2003, 2002, 2000, and 97: Tools>>Database Utilities>>Compact and Repair Database

Therefore, for the situations when you have damaged VBA code, or corrupt macros and modules, you can use ‘Decompile’ command of MS Access.

MS Access Decompile Command

The decompile command of MS Access tries to repair the corruption or damage of VBA codes, macros, reports, etc. Follow below mentioned steps to decompile your MS Access database:

1. Go to Start>Run command line and type msaccess.exe /decompile. Here msaccess.exe represents the complete path of Access database.

2. Now open the Access database, which you want to decompile.

3. Open any module like Compile it via Debug, Compile… and after that go to File and Save.

4. Now compact this database.

However, if none of these utilities work, then you have to use an efficient professional tool to perform Access backend database recovery or Access front end database recovery.