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why delete query must have DISTINCTROW keyword to work?

hey guys,

i used the QBE to write a delete query. however it could not work. i remember the solution from EE being switch on Unique Records in the QBE and it works. now i would like to understand why. when i switch on Unique Records, in SQL it just adds the keyword DISTINCTROW.

question --> why must i have DISTINCTROW for the delete query to work?

thanks in advance guys!! = ))

'this works
DELETE DISTINCTROW N.*, N.Imported
FROM WorkTime_Actual_tbl AS N INNER JOIN WorkTime_StaffAndWorkDate_Uploaded_qry AS U ON (U.WorkDate = N.WorkDate) AND (N.Staff_tblPK = U.Staff_tblPK)
WHERE (((N.Imported)=-1));

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'this does not work
'error message --> could not delete from specififed tables
DELETE N.*, N.Imported
FROM WorkTime_Actual_tbl AS N INNER JOIN WorkTime_StaffAndWorkDate_Uploaded_qry AS U ON (N.Staff_tblPK = U.Staff_tblPK) AND (N.WorkDate = U.WorkDate)
WHERE (((N.Imported)=-1));

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SOLUTION

Kelvin Sparks

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SOLUTION

PatHartman

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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Rey Obrero (Capricorn1)

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developingprogrammer

ASKER

hey Kelvin, Pat and capricorn1, thanks for all your help! = )

Kelvin that's a good point you make! i will keep that in mind thanks! = )

yup Pat it is limiting the rows in addition to the criteria = ) rows can only be delete from the many-side table. hrmmm. what do you mean by the many side table? that's an interesting point you make = )

capricorn1 that's a super good point! i think that's the whole problem --> me not having primary keys cause the query to think that the relationship is not unique. adding the distinctrow syntax solves the problem. thanks capricorn1!! = ))