[Excel] Running a SQL Query to delete rows

Question

Hello Experts,
Background: I am attempting to use a dba of my companies time keeping system and implement it with Power BI tools. Given the file size restrictions within Power Bi itself I need to lower my file size by removing all time logs from
inactive employees.
I have a question regarding whether or not you can use a sql query to delete rows in excel. I have roughly 200,000+ rows in my excel spreadsheet. I am attempting to delete all rows where an employee equals inactive. I have attempted to
delete these rows by sorting them and doing a bulk delete and clear contents, but it seems to crash my excel every time.  My thought process is that using a query that does a timed delete might put less of a burden on deleting the massive amount of data.
I would like to use this: DELETE * FROM [Table_(...)_Actual$] WHERE [Current] = "Inactive" (Will add more once I know it is possible to use sql queries in Excel.
Any information on whether or not this is possible would be appreciated.
Regards,
Link

Answer 1

Running SQL Query in Excel is possible, however, the delete query is not supported in Excel.
You are more restricted in deleting Excel data than   data from a relational data source. In a relational database, "row" has no   meaning or existence apart from "record"; in an Excel worksheet, this is not   true. You can delete values
in fields (cells). Please see:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/257819/en-us
One workaround : Use update query to set the rows as null, then use select query.
e.g. 
SQL = "update [sheet2$A1:B5] set name=null,age=null where name='andy'"
cnn.Execute SQL
SQL = "select name,age from [sheet2$A1:B5] where name is not null"
Wind Zhang
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