Question : How do I compact a MSDE Database?

Hello...
Can someone recommend how I can go about compacting a MSDE database? Is there any Microsoft utilities to allow me to do this? I reached my 2GB limit with my MSDE database. Are there any good freeware utilities out there that can compact this mdf file?

Thx
Ken

Answer : How do I compact a MSDE Database?

Hi,

Pardon me if I'm wrong, but I sense an Access Developer asking this question.

TWBit is right in that you can shrink a SQl database. However, you can not compact SQL databases in the same way that you can compact an Access Database., with a sometimes radical difference in filesize.

An interm solution might be to upgrade to SQL Express.

This link gives the comparision between MSDE and SQL Express
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/msde2sqlexpress.mspx

The database limit is now 4Gb, double what you currently have.

It might pay to think medium to longer term about upgrading to either Workgroup or Standard editions.

Specifically, I would upgrade to SQL Express, and install the SSMS Express - the GUI referred to above.

Note that while some of the capacity limits have been raised, others have been lowered - less ram, only one processor, no SQL Agent.

Look at SQL Server Books On Line (BOL) - available as a free download from MS if you dont' alread have it - and look at entries for dbcc dbreindex, dbcc shrink database.

Regards
  David