I am using FTM v.16, I compacted my file several times, it always shows 99-100%, then closes. I don't recall the last time I compacted. I am following instructions by first backing up. Is this how v. 16 works, or am I missing something. Dorothy Just another note about compacting. Yes, 50.5% is a LOT. However, it doesn't mean the file has been *completely* compacted. You need to keep doing it until the messages is: reduced by 0.0%. Then you know the file is compacted. I wouldn't be surprised if you had to compact your file 4 times before you reach 0.0%. I know, there's times I've had to. The folks at Ancestry alerted me to this. Lorraine Kingston, ON On Fri, 19 Aug 2011 Tom Herson wrote: Because I don't do it on a regular basis, I usually compact my file when someone mentions it, as Linda just did. I was surprised to see that the fle was reduced by 50.5% That's pretty scary. How could that be? Nothing seems to be missing with regard to the number of people, marriages, etc. Tom Herson Ithaca. NY