Public Function fCompactBE(TblName As String) As Boolean
' attemps to compact db TblName linked to,
' if successful returns true otherwise returns false
    Dim strPath As String, strDB As String, strName As String, strDBTmp As String
    fCompactBE = False                                   'default to fail
    On Error GoTo FastEx                                'just ignore next few possible errors
    strPath = CurrentDb.TableDefs(TblName).Connect
    strDB = Mid(strPath, InStr(1, strPath, "=") + 1)    'get rid of beginning
    strName = Dir(strDB)                                'get file name
    If strName = "" Then Exit Function                  'no file, could be compacting by another
    strPath = Left(strDB, Len(strDB) - Len(strName))    'get just the path
    strDBTmp = strPath & Left(strName, Len(strName) - 4) + "_tmp.mdb"   'create temp file name
    Name strDB As strDBTmp                              'rename db to temp file
    On Error GoTo CompactErr                            'trap if compact fails
    DBEngine.CompactDatabase strDBTmp, strDB            'compact db
    On Error Resume Next                                'ignore failer to delete temp file
    Kill strDBTmp                                       'delete temp file
    fCompactBE = True                                    'show success
    Exit Function                                       'exit & leave temp file
CompactErr:                                             'compact failed
    Name strDBTmp As strDB                              'rename DB back to true name
FastEx:
End Function