DELETE

Mark records for deletion

Syntax

      DELETE [<scope>] [WHILE <lCondition>]
             [FOR <lCondition>]

Arguments

<scope> is the portion of the current database file to DELETE. If a scope is not specified, DELETE acts only on the current record. If a conditional clause is specified, the default becomes ALL records.

WHILE <lCondition> specifies the set of records meeting the condition from the current record until the condition fails.

FOR <lCondition> specifies the conditional set of records to DELETE within the given scope.

Description

DELETE is a database command that tags records so they can be filtered with SET DELETED ON, queried with DELETED(), or physically removed from the database file with PACK. In addition, display commands such as LIST and DISPLAY identify deleted records with an asterisk (*) character. Once records are deleted, you can reinstate them by using RECALL. If you want to remove all records from a database file, use ZAP instead of DELETE ALL and PACK.

Any deleted record can be recalled as long as the PACK or ZAP command has not been issued. Once the PACK or ZAP command has been issued, the deleted data cannot be retrieved.

In a network environment, DELETE requires the current record be locked with RLOCK() if you are deleting a single record. If you are deleting several records, the current database file must be locked with FLOCK() or USEed EXCLUSIVEly. Refer to the “Network Programming” chapter in the Programming and Utilities Guide for more information.

Notes

. DELETE with SET DELETED ON: If the current record is deleted with SET DELETED ON, it will be visible until the record pointer is moved.

Examples

      .  This example demonstrates use of the FOR clause to mark a set
         of records for deletion:
      USE Sales INDEX Salesman NEW
      DELETE ALL FOR Inactive

Seealso

DBEVAL(), DELETED(), FLOCK(), PACK, RECALL, RLOCK()