One of the common IT support issue that many people have to deal with these days is how to make sure that a particular database works. When you run a business, chances are that you will have a database to contain all the information you need in the day to day running of the business. Depending on the type of data you are working with, you may require to access it on a regular basis or every once in a while. Either way, it’s important that you make sure that the speed with which the data is accessed is acceptable, since this will influence how useful the database will be for you.
There are a number of reasons why a slow database is not a good thing. For one, it might result in poor customer satisfaction. You may find that the vast majority of the clients who work with you will become increasingly irritated by having to wait for too long for service on account of a poorly designed database. In addition to that, having such a database will also affect the rate of errors.
For instance, your employees may end up misusing the database when they find it increasingly difficult to work with it. This means that when you are designing one, you should always do so with the goal of making sure that it actually works. There are a number of ways of designing your database in such a manner that it will actually perform optimally. These include:
Splitting it into two databases
In many cases, you will find that splitting a database into two will make it easier to manage either. It can also make it possible to make maintenance much easier as well. When you have two databases split from one main one, there will be fewer variables to work with in each. This means that maintenance will be predictable, and the chances of making a fatal mistake will be lower. In addition to that, having two smaller databases instead of one large one has also been shown to have an impact on the speed of access to each data type.
That said, however, you should remember that splitting a database into two should not be taken lightly. It’s important to get it done correctly to reduce the chances of ending up with two databases that are even more difficult to use than one. Consulting an IT support company that has experience in this is one of the best ways of getting it done.
Make sure that the workgroup file is updated
When using database programs such as Microsoft Access, the workgroup is an important element that governs how the database will be used. Always make a point of ensuring that the version of the workgroup used is the same as the version of Microsoft Access you are using. For instance, when upgrading the application, don’t forget to upgrade the workgroup as well.
Take advantage of performance analysis
When you use a database on a regular basis, always ensure that you do performance analysis on it regularly. There are several ways of doing this, the easiest way of which is to use the inbuilt applications in the database program you are using. You can also call your IT support company to do the analysis for you.
The main goal of the analysis is to identify the general nature of the database. You will also get an idea of where potential problems are likely to arise from, so that you can address them before the problem becomes manifest. This is a service that is particularly important when you have a very complex database that you use on a regular basis.
Reducing the size of graphics
In some database applications, the size of the graphics used can also influence the speed and performance of the database. To ensure that this does not have an impact on the quality involved, you should find ways of reducing the size of all the data in the form of graphics in the database. For instance, you can convert it into a .png format. This will significantly reduce the size of the photos without affecting their quality.
Database compaction
The process of database compaction involves reclamation of unused space in the database. This is a maintenance process that has to be carried out on a regular basis to reduce the risk of wasting too much memory, which will in turn reduce the speed of the database. Since memory use changes depending on how the database is used, this is a process that should be carried out as part of regular maintenance.
These are just a few of the things you can do to improve the performance of a database. Working with a company that provides reliable IT support in San Francisco is the best way to do all the above, as well as putting in place other measures to have the same effect.
You must be logged in to post a comment.