Microsoft Access 2010 Bible

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APPENDIX

Access 2010

Specifications

IN THIS APPENDIX

Identifying the Access 2010

specifications and limits

Looking at limits for Access

2010 tables, queries, forms,

and reports

Reviewing limits for SQL

Server Standard Edition and

SQL Server 64-bit Standard

Edition

T

his appendix shows the limits of Microsoft Access database files,

tables, queries, forms, reports, and macros. Please be aware the val-

ues given in this appendix are subject to change, and refer to

Microsoft’s Web site (www.microsoft.com) for the latest information on

these specifications.

The maximum database size, number of columns, and other limits on Access

databases are more than adequate for the vast majority of Access applica-

tions. In most cases, when an Access database application exceeds these lim-

its, there is some underlying design issue that is inappropriately driving the

application toward these limits. In the vast majority of cases, careful review

of an application’s design reveals a flaw in the database’s implementation.

The flaw eventually causes the application to bump up against the table or

column limits for Access databases.

For example, the maximum number of columns in an Access database table

is 255. Many Access developers would like to see Microsoft raise the maxi-

mum number of columns in Access tables to 1,000 or more. However, in

virtually every case I’ve ever looked at, a perceived need for more columns in

a table is the result of improper normalization more than anything else.

In many cases, improperly normalized data stems from importing data

directly from Microsoft Excel into Access. Excel users are accustomed to sim-

ply adding new columns to accommodate their needs without regard to con-

sidering the impact of the additional columns on the data the worksheet

contains.

Cross-Reference

Refer to Chapter 3 to review the steps for normalizing data.

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