MS Access Memory Issue

Question

Programming in Access 365 but it is a 32-bit access front end with a SQL Express backend. Been using this database for years with no issues. All of a sudden starting approx. last Monday 12/12/2022 we started getting out of memory errors on the client side. Users started getting it randomly over 2 or 3 days as if it was an update.

If I open the database and watch task manager, as I open forms and close them, I see the memory usage go up when the form is opened as expected but it never goes back down to where it started from when the form is closed. We have a few form timers that run code every 2 to 5 minutes and the same thing happens, memory usage goes up when the timer triggers but when the code finishes the memory is not released.

I have run CHECKDB on the SQL Express tables, I have also run a SQL Shrink Database. On the front end, I have decompiled the database, run a compact and repair and then recompiled it.

I have been able to reproduce the issue on a computer at my house with a different access database. This database is a 64-bit database with access tables not SQL. The same thing happens, when I open forms then close them the memory usage does not return to the amount before the form was open, always just a little higher until I get the error message.

Answer 1

Multiple users at my company are experiencing this same issue, which seems to have emerged with version 2211.

We can reliably reproduce the issue by running make table queries that rely on several SQL-based back end tables. As we run these queries, we see that Access consumes additional memory (and does not release any when the queries complete successfully.) On the third or fourth query, when Access consumes ~975 MB of RAM, we get this warning: "There isn't enough disk space or memory to undo the data changes this action query is about to make. Do you want to run this action query anyway". Clicking "Yes" allows us to complete the query successfully, but any subsequent attempt to run a query results in a "Query is too complex" error.

The issue doesn't seem related to any particular query. The order we run the queries also doesn't seem to matter. The issue always presents itself when we approach the 1 GB memory threshold.

I realize that this issue seems related to queries using SQL/ODBC-linked tables.

What are the appropriate next steps? What's the best way to communicate this information to MS Support?

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Answer 2

I think you nailed it. Are you getting system resources exceeded also?

Keep me posted if you get with MS.

Answer 3

I think you nailed it. Are you getting system resources exceeded also?

Keep me posted if you get with MS.

@SKIRK_70 - We're getting the two errors noted in my post, but "system resources exceeded". The issue is limited to Microsoft Access and does not impact any other Windows/system functions.

Answer 4

Thanks....I believe it's the same deal. Yes it is affecting access only. If the user closes the program it starts over but eventually runs out again.

Keep me posted.

Answer 5

Hi,

> We're getting the two errors noted in my post, but "system resources exceeded".

I guess this should be "but not...". So, your error message is a bit different.

Do you have the possibility to revert to version 2210 on a machine and check that the problem does not occur?

This would be an important test to determine that it is an update problem caused by 2011 as reported by others.

Servus

Karl