Depends on how your clients connect. If everyone uses Outlook (MAPI) then there should be very little in the stm file, all of thier data should be in the edb. If your clients connect via POP3 or IMAP then most of thier stuff will be in the stm file. Then there is the middle ground, OWA users will have thier messages in the edb and attachments in the stm. So looking at that you can theorize that either all/most of your users are POP3 users or you have a few OWA users that are recieving large attachments. Go on a spying trip and find out which of your OWA users has all those "funny videos" saved in thier email. ha ha George Taylor Systems Programmer Regional Health Inc. On 4/21/06, bryan brown <justlookin_list@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: what causes the stm file to be a considerable amount larger then the edb file? and should this be a concern? TIA _____ Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman2/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=39663/*http://voice.yahoo.com> using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. ***Note: The information contained in this message, including any attachments, may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the Sender immediately by a "reply to sender only" message and destroy all electronic or paper copies of the communication, including any attachments.