Compacting a file

[radekzadek]

I have been unpleasantly surprised to see that one of my .mnk files I set up reached the size of about 75 MBs despite the fact it didn't contain all that much data. I tried using the Compact File option, and it reduced the size to some 20 MBs. I was wondering though how the function works, and if it poses any restrictions on my future work with the file. If it does not, I dare ask why the compacting does not happen automatically. If anyone could explain, I'd be very happy.
Thanks.
Radekzadek

[Stingray57]

I don't know that you're going to get a fantastic answer on this. The concept behind compacting the databases to identify and compress those items that have compression attributes not all forms of data can be compressed... Tape drives work on the same native basis- tape drives can only compact information that have attributes that allow it to be compacted...

An example of this would be a JPEG image; JPEG images already have a compression ratio applied to them in most cases. So copying and pasting a JPEG image into MyNotesKeeper and then later coming back to compact the file, you're not going to get the great compression ratio.

And in regards to the file, your file, going from 70+ megabytes to 50+ megabytes is a pretty good ratio. I don't know why you'd be unpleasantly surprised; I would say was doing pretty good.

MyNotesKeeper files can be pretty big, and compacting those large files can take some processing time, and resources [...] and thus far the maintenance of the database has been a manual process, but it's not completely out of the scope of logic. \

A suggestion could be made to allow MyNotesKeeper to do maintenance on the database if the system is idle, but then you run the risk of a user trying to use their system while MyNotesKeeper is trying to optimize the file, and then dealing with the complaints of MyNotesKeeper interfering with their system performance. It's a double-edged sword...

I hope this helps...

Thanks,
Stingray57
MyNotesKeeper v1.9.9
Microsoft Vista HP x64/ XP / 7 and Ubuntu

[radekzadek]

Thank you for your swift reply, as always. Much appreciated. But don't get me wrong, Stingray. I didn't say I was unpleasantly surprised after the compression. It was indeed a sizeable diffrence. My disappointment was at the size of the original .mnk, but it is something I will apparently have to get used to.

And I was also wondering if the the compacting function can adversely affect my future work with the file, i.e. affect its performance or my ability to edit it, extend it etc.

[Stingray57]

OH. Okay well, In which case, I would say that you can put your mind at ease. I've several MyNotesKeeper files that are far bigger than yours and I enjoy no issues with performance... Excluding compacting.

Sorry I misunderstood the issue..

Thanks,
Stingray57
MyNotesKeeper v1.9.9
Microsoft Vista HP x64/ XP / 7 and Ubuntu