Description of the SQL Query Wizard

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, version 2.6
• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, version 2.6

SUMMARY

The information below describes the Structured Query Language (SQL) Query Wizard and how to use it to create an SQL query.

This information is also found in FoxPro online Help in the "SQL Query Wizard" topic.

MORE INFORMATION

The SQL Query Wizard searches one or more tables for records that match the criteria you specify. It creates a query file with a .QPR extension, the same type of query created when you use FoxPro's RQBE.

FoxPro .QPR queries allow you to use aggregate functions (such as AVG, COUNT, MAX, MIN, or SUM) in your query. The query results are read-only; you can browse them or incorporate them into a report, but cannot update the records.

SQL QUERY WIZARD STEPS

The SQL Query Wizard has six main steps:

1. Selecting and joining tables

2. Selecting fields and adding expressions

3. Setting grouping options

4. Setting the sort order of records (optional)

5. Limiting or filtering the records retrieved (optional)

6. Viewing, saving, and browsing the query, or creating an AutoReport from it

Step 1 of 6: Selecting Tables

First, select the table or tables you want to use from the Available Tables list.

NOTE: If you are using the Query Wizard from the Catalog Manager, the tables on which you want to base your query must reside in the open catalog. If there are no tables found in the catalog and you click the Query Wizard button, you will be prompted to name your query and select a table on which to base the query. Next, RQBE will start from which you can create a query. If you are not using the Wizard from the Catalog Manager, you can also choose the Open Table... button to use a table that is not currently open.

Step 1a of 6: Joining Tables

When you select more than one table, the wizard displays this screen so you can join the tables. Select matching fields from the parent table and the child table, then choose Add.

For example, if you are setting a join between the Customer table and the Invoices table, you could set Customer.cno equal to Invoices.cno.

If you want to delete the relationship between two tables, select the relationship and choose the Remove button.

When you are done joining tables, choose Next to continue to the next step.

Step 2 of 6: Selecting Fields and Adding Expressions

Select the fields you want to include in the query. The list of available fields includes fields from all the tables you have selected.

To select fields, you can:

• Double-click each field name in the Available Fields list.
• Select each field name and choose the Add button.
• Choose the Add All button to use all the table fields.

Adding Expressions to Your Query:

You can also add expressions to your query. An expression is a combination of operators, functions, and field names that evaluate to a single value. For example, you might want your query to include the sum of all prices:

   SUM(cost)

   Cost+Tax

To Create an Expression with the Expression Dialog:

1. Enter a name for your expression in the Name of calculated field box.

2. Either type the expression directly into the Expression box, or select String, Math, or Date expressions and combine them with the Fields available.

3. When you've finished building the expression, choose OK to confirm it.

Step 3 of 6: Grouping the Query Results

From the Available Fields list, select up to three fields by which to group the records in your query results.

For example, if you choose to group by state and zip code, the records will be sorted into groups by state, then grouped and sorted by zip code within each state.

This type of grouping can be useful in conjunction with any expressions you incorporate into your query. For example, you could include an expression which does a SUM of all sales, then group the results by State, to find the total sales by state.

Step 3a of 6: Setting Additional Grouping Options

You can add optional modifiers to your grouping criteria to control how records are grouped in the query results.

When you group by entire field, each unique field is placed in a separate group. If you want to make the groupings larger, you can specify that the fields be grouped by their first character, or their first two or three characters.

For example, if you were grouping the names Smith, Samuels, and Snyder by the entire field, each name would appear in its own group. If you grouped by first letter, all three names would appear in the same group.

For numeric fields, by default each unique number constitutes a separate group. If you choose, for example, to group by 10s, then all the values from 0 to 9 would be part of the same group.

Step 4 of 6: Setting the Sort Order for the Records

In this screen, you determine how the records retrieved by the query will be sorted.

Select up to three fields from the Available Fields list to set the sort order of the records. You can sort on fields from any of the selected tables.

For example, if you choose Customer.Name and Invoice.Ino, the records will be sorted by customer name, from the Customer table, and then by invoice number from the Invoices table.

Choose the Ascending option to sort records from the beginning of the alphabet, the lowest number, or the earliest date; choose the Descending option to sort records from the end of the alphabet, the highest number, or the latest date.

Step 5 of 6: Limiting the Contents of the Query

In this screen you can add an optional expression to further limit the records retrieved by the query. The effect is like filtering the results so that only records meeting certain criteria are included in the query results. For example, you could limit the search to last names starting with J by using the expression:

   Customer.lastname BeginsWith J

Entering Values:

In the Value field, type the value you want the query to compare the field against. For example, if you are looking for customer records with a particular last name, type that name in the Value box, after choosing the last name field and the equal-sign operator. The resulting query expression would look like this:

   LAST_NAME = JOHNSON

You can create more complex queries by adding more expressions.

When you combine expressions, they are combined with an AND operator by default. For example:

   STATE = WA
   AND ORDER > $100

   STATE = WA
   OR
   STATE = CA

   (STATE=WA
   OR
   STATE=CA)
   AND
   ORDER > $100

1. Select a field from the Fields list.

2. Select an operator from the Operator list.

3. Enter one or more values for comparison in the Value box.

4. Choose the Add button to add the resulting expression line to the expression box.

5. To check the results of the filter expression on the query, choose the Preview button.

• Select the expression line and choose the Remove button.

Step 6 of 6: Previewing, saving, and browsing your query

Choose the Preview... button to see the results of your query in a Browse window. If you are satisfied with the results, choose one of the following options, and choose the Finish button.

• Save Query for Later Use creates a standard Microsoft FoxPro SQL query file (.QPR file) you can run later.
• Save and Run Query saves the query and displays the records in a Browse window.
• Save and Create an AutoReport saves the query and creates and runs an automatic report based on the fields in the query.