Visual Query Builder

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Visual Query Builder dialog box allows you to design complex SELECT queries. The query builder supports most of SQL 92 standard. Once designed, you can export your data to HTML table format, Comma (CSV) and Tab (TSV) separated files, or export the query itself to the report designer layout. To open the Visual Query Builder dialog box, click the Report Menu option, and click select the Query Builder... Menu item. The Visual Query Builder dialog box appears. All previously configured data sources will appear on the Data Sources list box. Click on a data source to select a data source you want to build your query with.

To configure the Select, Joins, Where, Group By, Having and Order By clauses, click on their respective Select, Joins, Where, Group By, Having and Order By buttons. If you want to enter your own query, click on the My Query... button, a text box opens for you to enter your query. The text of your query is instantly displayed on the SQL Statement panel to enable you to monitor what you are doing. The Visual Query Builder gives you the option to choose among 3 common join syntax supported by most databases: SQL 92 (recommended standard), Star Equal *= that is supported by Microsoft Access, SQL Server and Sybase Server and Plus Equal (+)= that is supported by Oracle. Some databases, Microsoft Access and SQL Server for example, allow you to use specified quoted identifiers on tables and column names with spaces. If you have tables and column names with spaces, it is recommended that you choose the quoted identifier your database is familiar with from the quoted identifier combo box.

After you finish designing your query, you can click on the Execute button to view the results of your query or export to CSV/TSV formats. To export the results of your query to html table format, click on the HTML Table button. Click on the Clear All button to clear and reset your query including all clauses. Click on the OK button to export the query to the report designer window, if you had previously opened a report design in the main window. All the fields of your query will be available for you to drag and drop on the different sections of your report. You can click Cancel at any time to return to Instant Report main window.