How to: Create Delete Queries
You can delete all rows in a table by using a Delete query.
Note
Deleting all rows from a table clears the data in the table but does not delete the table itself. To delete a table from a database, right-click the table in Server Explorer and click Delete.
When you create a Delete query, the Criteria pane changes to reflect the options available for deleting rows. Because you do not display data in a Delete query, the Output, Sort By, and Sort Order columns are removed. In addition, the check boxes next to the column names in the rectangle representing the table or table-valued object are removed because you cannot specify individual columns to delete.
If the Query and View Designer can't delete one or more of the rows none of them will be deleted and you will receive a message telling you which row(s) contain information that can't be deleted from the database.
Warning
You cannot undo the action of executing a Delete query. As a precaution, back up your data before executing a Delete query.
Note
Your computer might show different names or locations for some of the Visual Studio user interface elements in the following instructions. The Visual Studio edition that you have and the settings that you use determine these elements. For more information, see Customizing Development Settings in Visual Studio.
To create a Delete query
Add the table to delete rows from to the Diagram pane.
From the Query Designer menu, point to Change Type, and then click Delete. Note If more than one table is displayed in the Diagram pane when you start the Delete query, the Query and View Designer displays the Delete Table dialog box to prompt you for the name of the table to delete rows from.
When you execute the Delete query, no results are reported in the Results pane. Instead, a message appears indicating how many rows were deleted.
See Also
Concepts
Supported Query Types (Visual Database Tools)