# Unexpected results when Copying database and the deleting large # of people **URL:** \ **Category:** RootsMagic\ **Tags:** question\ **Created:** [June 9, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/unexpected-results-when-copying-database-and-the-deleting-large-of-people/13992 "2025-06-09T16:59:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/unexpected-results-when-copying-database-and-the-deleting-large-of-people/13992/1 "2025-06-09T16:59:25Z")
I am aware that I can use drag n drop – for this purpose copied the database in Windows / renamed and then opened in RM. I then deleted a large # of people 26K to 6K (over 75% less people) I also ran all tools – the file size remained the same (slightly bigger actually) Approx 210mb. I do realize them sources/ places and media tables etc would remain the same. I would have expect due to the large # of facts/people etc – the file size would be noticably smaller. I then used a drag drop method which the file size was 66mb. I would not expect the file size of the first method to be as smaller as the drag n drop method but also I would not have expected the file to be no change in file size. This seems odd to me. (I am sure Media thumbs have large part of that – but there is more going on. Kevin ---
**Author:** ![kbens0n](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/kbens0n/32/80_2.png) [@kbens0n](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kbens0n)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/unexpected-results-when-copying-database-and-the-deleting-large-of-people/13992/2 "2025-06-09T17:06:14Z")
Does the Enhanced properties list Tool jive with the original or the trimmed database? ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/unexpected-results-when-copying-database-and-the-deleting-large-of-people/13992/3 "2025-06-09T17:15:23Z")
The original original db has many more of course The Trimmed db and the drag n drop db have 99.9% match on people/events and and other info. (about 6.2K people and 20K evens vs 26K people and~83K events for orig) Not for places/ sources/citations which is expected. (as 20K people were removed from the orig) Kevin ---
**Author:** ![kbens0n](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/kbens0n/32/80_2.png) [@kbens0n](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kbens0n)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/unexpected-results-when-copying-database-and-the-deleting-large-of-people/13992/4 "2025-06-09T17:33:40Z")
> [@kevync1985](#): > > The original original db has many more of course That certainly makes for a reportable test case if **the file size remained the same (slightly bigger actually)** ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/unexpected-results-when-copying-database-and-the-deleting-large-of-people/13992/5 "2025-06-09T18:07:13Z")
More info using sql `Select "PersonTable" as "Table", Count(PersonID) as Qty FROM PersonTable UNION Select "EventTable" as "Table", Count(EventID) as Qty FROM EventTable UNION Select "MediaTable" as "Table", Count(MediaID) as Qty FROM MultiMediaTable UNION Select "PlaceTable" as "Table", Count(PlaceID) as Qty FROM PlaceTable` full original ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/6/6d8c9f11af33cbf92b799f2acefc02d343f0d445.png) Removed people same file size 210 mb [image] ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/9/90883d3a608f3fcf9f1c64d64d242b56e71d9618.png) Drag N drop (71Mb) [image] ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/2/2d4a351bf888d87a643c60f94cdc284888a1a76a.png) ---
**Author:** ![TomH](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/tomh/32/30_2.png) [@TomH](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/TomH)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/unexpected-results-when-copying-database-and-the-deleting-large-of-people/13992/6 "2025-06-09T22:06:37Z")
You have to run the RM Compact database tool to recover space formerly used by deleted records. Deleting people does not delete many things associated with them, e.g., Places, Citations, Sources, Media, … but should remove links to same. Edit: drag’n’drop or GEDCOM only transfers things that are used by the people included. ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/unexpected-results-when-copying-database-and-the-deleting-large-of-people/13992/7 "2025-06-09T22:37:00Z")
> [@TomH](#): > > You have to run the RM Compact database tool to recover space formerly used by deleted records. as stated I ran all tools – its did not reclaim space – I expected to need to run tools. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/1/1efeb39e23bcad58d8bd04b5ef9cfa20b0d57722.png) ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2025, 12:21am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/unexpected-results-when-copying-database-and-the-deleting-large-of-people/13992/8 "2025-06-10T00:21:44Z")
> [@TomH](#): > > Edit: drag’n’drop or GEDCOM only transfers things that are used by the people included. I am aware of that. Update I ran the tools a 2nd time – this time it was reduce by 10% (only 10%) to 190mb Since Places and media was not reduce by delete only people and facts that would account for chunk of it. (not sure how much the thumbs take up). - original file 210 mb - 2nd file 190 mb - drag n drop 71 mb (was smaller before restoring media links)