The 2000 database hovered around 361mb to 362 when compacted. Climbed to 368 when not compacted.
After the work completed this morning, it dropped to 348,800 and has climbed to 352,700.
I still have the copy I used to work on that is 348,804KB
Yesterday's backup is 360,172KB and I note copy 357,912KB but nothing close to 348mb
This has been my "goal in life" the last month or two to do a "garage sale" of unwanted queries, forms and macros by deleting - the odd

- and replacing with VBA and smarter queries and forms.
Regular compacting and repairing but noting that came close to the drop experienced today.
We don't have images.
Can't explain otherwise unless two "tasks" were involved. This would mean adding 2 more Macros , 1 form, 2 reports and about 10 queries plus 1 temp table, if not mentioned earlier.
Could the temp table be the issue?
Maybe I didn't compact and repair between the two tasks done this morning but no way was a major table deleted, just the temp table.