Deleting records Professional

In the Xbase++ language, the DbDelete() function marks a database record for deletion while DbPack() or PACK removes marked records phyiscally from a DBF table. This behavior does not exist in SQL DBMSs. Instead, a delete operation removes a record permanently from a table. This record cannot be recalled using the DbRecall() function unless a database is prepared for extended DbDelete()/DbRecall() support.

If a database field named _DELETED exists in a table having the datatype character and the length of one (_DELETED, C, 1), this field is used for the deletion mark of a record. This way, DbDelete() / DbRecall() work as with DBF tables, i.e. DbDelete() stores an asterisk ("*") in the field and DbRecall() overwrites it with a blank space (" "). Records marked for deletion can then be removed using PACK or DbPack().