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How to fix a big FPT File

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    How to fix a big FPT File

    I have a table with a memo field and the FPT file has grown to 1.35 gb. which I am sure is empty.

    Please advise how to fix this

    Thanks

    Luis R
    Mexico

    #2
    Re: How to fix a big FPT File

    Well as nobody has answered Luis,
    Here are a few questions first.

    * How does the Memo field get populated? [If you suspect it's empty, why is it growing? Blank Memo fields take 10 bytes - populated or not]
    * Do you have a current backup of the data?
    * How do you know which Memo fields are empty? [Run a Query using Query Genie on the Table for the specific field.]
    * Has an Image been inserted into the Memo field somehow?

    Once you have decided whether there are records you want to keep, we can go further.
    See our Hybrid Option here;
    https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


    Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
    You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: How to fix a big FPT File

      Memo fields have had a reputation of bloating, often hitting the 2GB limit on at least FAT32 hard disks.

      After looking at what Ted suggested above, as an existing backup is your first, best solution, here are my thoughts

      If it were me, I'd reboot the machine where the files are located and get a backup of what is there in the app directory. Do the backup before any AA files are opened.

      Then I'd open Alpha and right click on the DBF file, looking for utilities, then look for check / repair memo fields.

      I have never used it, myself, but it was added after many users were experiencing corruption with FPT files.

      You might want to explore the software documentation on what this actually does.

      It was never determined exactly why this occurs occasionally, but there are many threads with thoughts on why. I think things like sudden file / network disconnects, field rule conflicts, and the like were ideas tossed on the table.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: How to fix a big FPT File

        The options are a bit drastic if you are an AS newbie, but easily possible with a few built in procedures, Craig.
        Whatvwe need is the progenitor.
        See our Hybrid Option here;
        https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


        Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
        You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: How to fix a big FPT File

          Is this the only memo field in that table and there is truly no data in the memo field that you need?

          if so,
          Backup up your table.

          Remove the memo field from the table.

          the .fpt should go away.

          Don't use memo fields unless you can control them. They are a soft spot in dbf tables.
          Last edited by Al Buchholz; 02-17-2020, 07:14 PM.
          Al Buchholz
          Bookwood Systems, LTD
          Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

          Occam's Razor - KISS
          Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
          Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
          When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
          "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
          Albert Einstein

          http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

          Comment


            #6
            Re: How to fix a big FPT File

            Not quite, Al.
            Deleting a Memo field is fine, but it persists until you Compact on your media.
            What I would do is;
            Back up everything.
            Query the memo table for empty memo fields.
            If not all are empty then;
            Duplicate the table with the memo field - include Records.
            Delete memo field in the master table.
            Compact.
            Create a Post Operation which posts memo data from the copied table to the master table IF the memo field is not empty.

            Then, think about how to manage or use this type of field in future.
            See our Hybrid Option here;
            https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


            Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
            You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: How to fix a big FPT File

              If you create more than one memo field in a table(memo,rtfmemo,image) they all share the one file. Usually it comes down to one or two records where there is corruption. Many of them have been found by simply scrolling the records one at a time in a browse. The browse will stop scrolling at the corrupted record. But not always that simple.
              Dave Mason
              [email protected]
              Skype is dave.mason46

              Comment


                #8
                Re: How to fix a big FPT File

                I really appreciate your help. The way I fixed it, was finding the records that caused the problems and Delete them. The only problem was that I took 2-3 hs to locate the records.

                Thanks for the help

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: How to fix a big FPT File

                  The main cause for memo field corruption (in my experience) is the record pointer inadvertently moving during a change or enter operation. So the secret to memo field vitality is to freeze navigation during a change or enter operation. The easiest way to do this is to put the memo field into a modal form. Require the user to save or cancel the operation before exiting the modal. If you can't do a modal, use xbasic to disable navigation during change or enter. The other thing to do as best practice is to isolate the memo field(s) a table just for that memo field. Link it to your main table via a set. So the linked table only has two fields - the memo field and the linking id field. If your memo table gets corrupted or otherwise goes south, your main table is not damaged in the least. Also don't put memo fields in browses, that too is potentially asking for trouble. If you follow the above, you'll likely not experience any problems with memo fields. Once I did that in my own applications, I never had a problem ever again with memo fields.
                  Peter
                  AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                  [email protected]
                  https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: How to fix a big FPT File

                    Or the very best way... don't use forms or browses to enter or edit data. Use xdialogs and make changes to tables through code and not through forms or browses. The true and only really safe way to do this work.
                    Mike W
                    __________________________
                    "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: How to fix a big FPT File

                      Agreeing with Peter and add people copying odd or word files directly into memo field have produced the worst problems for me.
                      Dave Mason
                      [email protected]
                      Skype is dave.mason46

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: How to fix a big FPT File

                        Dave:

                        Now that's interesting about the copy / paste from Word or the like. I never thought of / knew that.

                        None of my memo fields are used in that manner, and have always been stable. Most fill in by API sources like weatherunderground, upcmdb, service channel, and others. The rest are typed directly in by users and just a couple paragraphs at most.

                        I wonder if that's why Luis, seemingly following your suggestion, tracked down his issue to a couple records.

                        I'll have to remember that little tidbit, as it makes sense to me that the paste may have something the memo field just cannot swallow. This may explain why I have been so lucky where others are not.

                        It always feels good to learn new things. Thanks to all.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: How to fix a big FPT File

                          "The rest are typed directly in by users and just a couple paragraphs at most." That is what you think and hope for
                          Last edited by DaveM; 02-25-2020, 03:23 AM.
                          Dave Mason
                          [email protected]
                          Skype is dave.mason46

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: How to fix a big FPT File

                            It dies not seem xuch a big problem if user opens the memo field and uses thw supplied button to paste what was copied.
                            Dave Mason
                            [email protected]
                            Skype is dave.mason46

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