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

REI_LT, I sent Karl a sample database with queries that duplicate the large memory spike this afternoon.

Please keep us posted with any feedback from MS. Hoping they at least acknowledge the issue.

Scott

Answer 2

Hi Scott,

Some hours were lost as I only looked after your mail and found it in my provider's spam bucket when I saw your post here. That should be a good sign for the further journey. ;-)

Servus

Karl

Answer 3

Hi Scott (and other affected people),

I have forwarded your repro files to an engineer of the Access team to have a look at and will keep you posted.

Servus

Karl

Answer 4

Hi Karl, checking in to see if you have received any feedback from Microsoft?

I'm starting to see semi-annual issues now so it's been another wave of my customers having the issue.

Appreciate your help!

Scott

Answer 5

Hi Scott,

So far I've only received a, let's say, "confident receipt" for your files and the assurance that an update would follow. I'll keep you posted.

I know it's all quite slow, but I'm used to it when dealing with this little company ;-)

Speaking of slow... It would be strange if the problem also appeared with the semi-annual version, because it is 6 months behind and the corresponding reports should have accumulated for some time. But of course it can't be ruled out as long as it's not clear what factors play a role here.

Servus

Karl