Retrieving Data with Queries

You can retrieve data from tables and views quickly and easily by using queries. You use queries for various reasons: to answer a quick question, to organize information for a report, or to see any relevant subset of your data. Whatever your aim, SQL Server provides the tools you need to get the data you want.

Note You can create queries using isql, ISQL/w, the query analyzer SQL Enterprise Manager, or any number of other (third-party or custom-built) tools.

For details on isql, see the isql command-line utility in the Microsoft SQL Server Transact-SQL Reference. For details on ISQL/w, see Utilities and Executables in the Microsoft SQL Server Transact-SQL Reference. For details on SQL Enterprise Manager, see the SQL Enterprise Manager online Help.