How to delete in MS Access when using JOIN's?

Delete Table1.*
From Table1
Where Exists( Select 1 From Table2 Where Table2.Name = Table1.Name ) = True

To expand on my answer, the official SQL specification does not provide for using Joins in action queries specifically because it can create ambiguous results. Thus, it is better (and Access is much happier) if you can avoid using Joins in action queries like I have here. The reason that Access wants DISTINCTROW is that it is likely that the Join between the two tables would create duplicates of Table1 rows (i.e., there are multiple related rows in Table2) and thus Access gets confused. I've also found that if you try to use a Join and a primary key does not exist Access will balk. In general, it is better to avoid a join in an action query if you can.


One problem to be aware of: This does NOT work with table/query aliases!

DELETE a.*
from tblA as A
where exists (select 1 from tblB as B where a.id=b.id)

Deletes ALL records in tblA! I tried it using alias for tblA and tblB seperately - same result (Access 2010).

Happens with SELECT as well (which I often use before deleting)...