deleting multiple records from access

  • Thread starter Thread starter john
  • Start date Start date
J

john

Hello
I have a simple database with about 500000 records
I want to know if there is a way to quickly erase a large number
of records at once, using access. I want to mark and then delete,
but I can't mark a large number of records
thank you
john
 
John,
Is there some logic as to which records you'll keep, and which you'll
delete?
If so, then you could develop a Delete query that would do that for you.

Are you deleting all of them?
If so, just delete the table.

What do you mean by "mark?" Do you mean use the Record Selectors
in table view?

A bit more info would help, and perhaps an example or two of how you'll
determine what to delete...
--
hth
Al Campagna
Microsoft Access MVP 2007-2009
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions/index.html

"Find a job that you love... and you'll never work a day in your life."
 
Hello
I have a simple database with about 500000 records
I want to know if there is a way to quickly erase a large number
of records at once, using access. I want to mark and then delete,
but I can't mark a large number of records
thank you
john
Click to expand...

Al's questions are relevant, but if you want to delete ALL of the records -
empty the table completely - then it's really easy; create a new query based
on the table, change it to a Delete query, and don't apply any criteria. The
SQL view would be

DELETE * FROM MyDoomedTable;

Compact and Repair the database after you've run it to recover the space that
the half million records formerly occupied.

OF COURSE you should make a backup before doing anything so drastic - even
without a compact, Delete cannot be undone; there's no "oops" button!
 
To add to John's suggestion, you could just open the table,
hit Ctrl-A (Select All), and hit the Delete button.

That too will delete all the records, but keep the table design.
--
hth
Al Campagna
Microsoft Access MVP 2007-2009
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions/index.html

"Find a job that you love... and you'll never work a day in your life."
 
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