Delete using a composite key

Question

I am trying to wrap my head around creating a delete statement for a table with a composite key.

I would like to create something like:

DELETE 
FROM 
    table_example1
WHERE
    COLUMN1, COLUMN2
    IN
    (SELECT COLUMN1, COLUMN2 FROM table_example2
    WHERE
        COLUMN_DATETIME > @Period);

Keeping in mind only the combination of COLUMN1 and COLUMN2 is unique, each column on its own is not unique.

I can't seem to get my head around how I would actually do this.

According to the SQL standard you need parentheses around the columns: where (COLUMN1, COLUMN2) IN (...) but I don't think SQL server supports this. — , May 07 '15 at 09:18
@a_horse_with_no_name I had found this online as well, but SQL server indeed does not support this. — Reaces, May 07 '15 at 09:20

score 14 · Accepted Answer · edited May 07 '15 at 10:29

Should be something like this:

DELETE A
FROM 
    table_example1 AS A
    INNER JOIN table_example2 AS B
    ON A.COLUMN1 =B.COLUMN1
    AND A.COLUMN2 = B.COLUMN2
WHERE
    COLUMN_DATETIME > @Period;

Alternatively:

DELETE FROM A
FROM dbo.table_example1 AS A
WHERE EXISTS
(
    SELECT *
    FROM dbo.table_example2 AS B
    WHERE
        B.COLUMN1 = A.COLUMN1
        AND B.COLUMN2 = A.COLUMN2
        AND B.COLUMN_DATETIME > @Period
);

Delete using a composite key

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