Recalling transactions to void/database size

Posted by mkim797 on October 16, 2005, 9:27 pm

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I am having this problem with voiding transactions: it takes around 2-3
minutes for the system to even recall the transactions for the day
before it lets me browse them to void the transaction. I have a
database that is around 1.5 Gb large. I am using MSDE and I DEFINITELY
don't want to upgrade to SQL Server. I only have 1 lane so I don't
really need a full blown SQL server for my application. I would
imagine that part of the reason why my database is slowing down is the
size. I am running a relatively slow server (one lane just doesn't
justify the cost to run a faster one).

I want to shrink the database...and what I mean by shrink is remove and
archive the transaction history and any other extraneous information.
There are 3rd party applications for that, but once again, I can't
justify paying for a 3rd party app when it should be something that is
integrated in the current program. What are my options?

I was thinking of just backing up the main database and then using the
offline database to build up a new database with only item information.
Is this possible? I would imagine that the offline database doesn't
store ANY transaction history, except what is used when the main is
offline, then purges the transactions to the main database when it
comes back online?

Does anyone have any ideas? Is my logic flawed? Please respond in plain
english, I have very limited knowledge of MSDE/SQL server and neither
am I a database programmer. Thank you very much :)

Posted by Jeff on October 16, 2005, 10:30 pm

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mkim797,

How much RAM in the machine? We like at least a gigabyte.

Have you re-indexed and checked (in SO Administrator) the database recently?
Backup before doing either.
--
=

>I am having this problem with voiding transactions: it takes around 2-3

> minutes for the system to even recall the transactions for the day

> before it lets me browse them to void the transaction. I have a

> database that is around 1.5 Gb large. I am using MSDE and I DEFINITELY

> don't want to upgrade to SQL Server. I only have 1 lane so I don't

> really need a full blown SQL server for my application. I would

> imagine that part of the reason why my database is slowing down is the

> size. I am running a relatively slow server (one lane just doesn't

> justify the cost to run a faster one).

> I want to shrink the database...and what I mean by shrink is remove and

> archive the transaction history and any other extraneous information.

> There are 3rd party applications for that, but once again, I can't

> justify paying for a 3rd party app when it should be something that is

> integrated in the current program. What are my options?

> I was thinking of just backing up the main database and then using the

> offline database to build up a new database with only item information.

> Is this possible? I would imagine that the offline database doesn't

> store ANY transaction history, except what is used when the main is

> offline, then purges the transactions to the main database when it

> comes back online?

> Does anyone have any ideas? Is my logic flawed? Please respond in plain

> english, I have very limited knowledge of MSDE/SQL server and neither

> am I a database programmer. Thank you very much :)

Posted by ozzie on October 16, 2005, 10:40 pm

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In store ops administrator, you could try going to the database menu and
selecting "reindex". and see if that helps at all.

"mkim797" wrote:

> I am having this problem with voiding transactions: it takes around 2-3

> minutes for the system to even recall the transactions for the day

> before it lets me browse them to void the transaction. I have a

> database that is around 1.5 Gb large. I am using MSDE and I DEFINITELY

> don't want to upgrade to SQL Server. I only have 1 lane so I don't

> really need a full blown SQL server for my application. I would

> imagine that part of the reason why my database is slowing down is the

> size. I am running a relatively slow server (one lane just doesn't

> justify the cost to run a faster one).

> I want to shrink the database...and what I mean by shrink is remove and

> archive the transaction history and any other extraneous information.

> There are 3rd party applications for that, but once again, I can't

> justify paying for a 3rd party app when it should be something that is

> integrated in the current program. What are my options?

> I was thinking of just backing up the main database and then using the

> offline database to build up a new database with only item information.

> Is this possible? I would imagine that the offline database doesn't

> store ANY transaction history, except what is used when the main is

> offline, then purges the transactions to the main database when it

> comes back online?

> Does anyone have any ideas? Is my logic flawed? Please respond in plain

> english, I have very limited knowledge of MSDE/SQL server and neither

> am I a database programmer. Thank you very much :)

Posted by root on October 17, 2005, 10:07 am

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you can run a shrink database command on the database to remove unnecessary
empty space. Usually the impact is small, but noticable.

Do not recall transactions to void. It will not accomplish what you want
and it will override the main purpose of a POS system. That data is gold.

The size limit for MSDE is 2 gig. The next version the limit will be 4 gig
I think. The next version is SQL express and should be available in
November sometime. Yes, it is still free.