Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!wuarchive!ukma!hsdndev!cmcl2!adm!fstc-chville.army.mil!samt19!hq!par From: par@hq.af.mil (Paul A. Reitelbach) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps Subject: Re: dBase-III+ memo fields. Message-ID: Date: 29 May 91 11:58:38 GMT References: <1991May23.172337.28628@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov> <1991May23.225344.18772@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov> Sender: par@hq.af.mil Organization: HQ US Air Force, The Pentagon Lines: 34 In-reply-to: basil@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov's message of 23 May 91 22:53:44 GMT In article <1991May23.172337.28628@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov> I wrote: = = I have a database with a field of type memo and I'm trying to replace some = values in certain records. What I want to do is something like the following: = = REPLACE ALL MY_MEMO with "New text" FOR = = Unfortunately, dBase barks back with a "Data type mismatch." error, can anyone = suggest a way around this problem. = Not only that, it appears that when using memo fields, the associated file (.DBT) tends to grow uncontrollably. My file has now reach 600,000 bytes! yikes! Anyone know how to compact that space? Or better yet get the fields into a character format. I need help. -- Basil Hashem basil@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov Jet Propulsion Laboratory La Canada Flintridge, CA Yes, you can shrink the memo field in a database by simply coping it (i.e. use the copy file command) Copy the old file to a new file and then delete the old file then rename the new file to the old file name. This will shrink the file greatly as you will see. I would not be suprised if you see that 600,000 byte file of yours go down to 200,000 bytes or less. Good luck, send e-mail if you have more questions? -- Paul A. Reitelbach * There's a way to do it better - Computer Programmer/Analyst * find it. United States Air Force Civilian * Pentagon, Washington, D.C. * Thomas A. Edison (1847 - 1931)