Development Guide

Chapter 6
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Debugging, analyzing, and optimizing files 61
The Optimize File option defragments the file to make the physical
arrangement of data match the logical arrangement. This feature is
especially useful for increasing the speed at which finds and sorts are
performed on files with a large number of records. You can use the
Optimize File feature at any time, even on databases that will have
data added to them.
Both File Maintenance options work on the currently open database
file, without creating another copy. If you are hosting files, networked
clients will not have access to the file maintenance features for those
files.
You can use the options together or by themselves. You can cancel the
operation of the features at any time with the compression and
defragmentation that has been performed up to the point of
cancellation still retained.
1. Open a database file.
2. Choose Tools menu > File Maintenance.
3. Select one or both options, then click OK.
A File Maintenance Status dialog box shows you the progress of the
features. An alert dialog box tells you when file maintenance is
complete.
File Maintenance dialog box