Data length of table not being reduced

Question

We have a large InnoDB table which is gigabytes in size. We're now clearing it up. Rows are being removed however from MySQLAdministrator, the data length of the table has not reduced at all. Why is this so? Should we run "Optimize table"?

Thanks!

Krt_Malta

Answer 1

I don't think optimize table will work.. The space made available by your deletion is not returned to disk but is most probably empty indeed. The engine will simply start using that free space before taking up more physical disk space.