PB-Systems’ MDB Repair Tool Readme

Description:	Microsoft Access databases can become corrupt to the point that a standard repair or compact will not fix the problem.  MDB files this badly damaged can only be fixed with a compact-repair-compact cycle.  Some MDB files may be even worse, to the point that they will continually re-corrupt unless you rebuild all objects by exporting them all into a blank database, finishing with another compact. 
	
	MDB Repair Tool automates this repair process for you on otherwise unrecoverable MDB files.  It will perform the standard (and mandatory) C-R-C pass (compact-repair-compact); and then if selected it will Rebuild the MDB file.  All objects, including tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, modules, relationships, import/export specs, and menubars are exported to the new blank .mdb file.

The tool also makes consecutive backups of the original mdb, starting with an extension of 001.  So an original database named “MyDB.mdb” will be backed up to “MyDB.001”, and the new “MyDB.mdb” will be compacted, repaired, compacted, and if you choose, it will also be completely rebuilt, object-by-object.

Need:	This tool is needed for the following occasions:
•	Resolve GPF’s in code that are seemingly inexplicable and continue to recur despite routine repair and compacts.  You could also issue a /Decompile at loadup to do the same thing.
•	Cut file size beyond what repair and compact does to data tables (for cleanup and size reduction).
•	Repair databases that will not repair with a single Repair or Compact command.
•	Repair databases that seem to routinely corrupt.  By Rebuilding the file, all corruption is removed.

Usage:	You can look at the screen shot below for an idea of how the GUI works.  It is a really simple, single dialog application.  That dialog contains one text box into which you pick an .mdb files to decompile.  There is a browse button to assist with file selection (don’t have to type entire path in).
1.	Use the browse file button () to select a target mdb file.
2.	Check or Uncheck the “Rebuild File” Option checkbox for creating a blank new mdb, and exporting all objects into it for a pure repair.
3.	Press the Repair button to backup, CRC, and rebuild the file.

Require’ts:	The following list of requirements is necessary for MDB Repair Tool to properly function:
1.	Microsoft Access 97 (or Access 2000)
2.	1MB of hard drive space
3.	Pentium II or better

Notes:		Here are some technical notes regarding the application:
•	The entire application is written in VBA using Access.  This is to keep the setup small (why pull over to VB requiring 1MB for a runtime engine, plus several more MB’s for the Access OLE automation engine to access these objects?  Could not see the need, so just keep it simple and require MS-Access).
•	Help About () can be clicked to popup a message box describing the app, its freeware status and more.
•	Even though this application is freeware and is relatively small, the source code is not freely available.  You must pay $50 to obtain the source code.  Contact “BuySrc@pb-sys.com” for further information on obtaining the source code for your applications.