Preventing out of memory errors in Access 2.0
Article ID: SFKB0002
Last Reviewed:   August 18, 1997
Applies To:   SPEED Ferret 1.0  (SPEED Ferret for Access 2)

Symptoms

While inspecting the forms and reports in your database, SPEED Ferret may be unable to execute necessary steps because Microsoft Access has run out of memory. When the search results are displayed, many forms and reports may have only a single reference which says "<Unreadable>: Out of memory".


Cause

Too many add-in libraries are being used with Microsoft Access.

Some customers have reported Out of Memory errors while using SPEED Ferret if numerous other add-in libraries are also installed. At startup, Access 2.0 compiles all installed add-ins as it displays the "loading add-ins" status bar text. Each add-in consumes a portion of an internal memory structure that Access maintains. If other add-ins are prevented from loading at startup, the Out of Memory errors will usually be eliminated.


Solution

Using a text editor, locate the [Libraries] section of the file C:\windows\msacc20.ini. You will notice one line which contains a reference to the SPEED Ferret library, Ferret.mda. This line causes SPEED Ferret to be loaded when Access is started. Other lines in this section cause other libraries to be loaded.

You can prevent a library from loading by placing a semicolon (;) at the beginning of the appropriate line in the [Libraries] section. Your changes will take effect the next time you start Access.

Before restarting SPEED Ferret, you should delete the Property Cache files located in the directory containing your database. These files have the suffixes .SF2, .SF3, .SF4, and .SF5.