Not enough memory, can't change data type

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hi there,

I have a table with about 250,000 records and I want to change a text field
where all the data looks something like 12-JUL-03 to a date/time data type.
When I do this, I get an error message saying there is not enough disk space
or memory. The field is not indexed. I tried to reduce the field size and I
get the same memory error. Is this a limitation in Access 2000 or is there
something I can do. My computer runs on XP and has 256 megs of memory and
lots of space on the hard drive.

Thanks!
 
When you change a data type, ACCESS actually creates a new field with the
desired data type, copies the data from the old field to the new field, and
then deletes the old field. If you have a lot of data, this can give you the
error that you see.

Try this workaround:

Create a new field with the desired data type. Create and run an update
query that will copy the data from the old field into the new field. Delete
the old field.
 
Hi Ken!

Thanks, what a great idea, that worked really well. After hitting myself in
the head a couple times, I then remembered how to do an update query, but
that was the only snag!

Thanks again,

John
--
www.brightfuture.ca/bright
My email address can be found on my site.


Ken Snell said:
When you change a data type, ACCESS actually creates a new field with the
desired data type, copies the data from the old field to the new field, and
then deletes the old field. If you have a lot of data, this can give you the
error that you see.

Try this workaround:

Create a new field with the desired data type. Create and run an update
query that will copy the data from the old field into the new field. Delete
the old field.
Click to expand...
 
You're welcome.

--

Ken Snell
<MS ACCESS MVP>

Johnny Bright said:
Hi Ken!

Thanks, what a great idea, that worked really well. After hitting myself
in
the head a couple times, I then remembered how to do an update query, but
that was the only snag!

Thanks again,

John
Click to expand...
 
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