Chapter 4: Selecting Data with Queries
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The Query Designer consists of two sections:l The table/query pane (top): This is where tables or queries and their fields are added to
the query’s design.
l The Query by Example (QBE) design grid (bottom): The QBE grid holds the field
names involved in the query and any criteria used to select records. Each column in the
QBE grid contains information about a single field from a table or query contained within
the upper pane.The two window panes are separated horizontally by a pane-resizing bar (refer to Figure 4.6). Use
the mouse to move the bar up or down to change the relative sizes of the upper and lower panes.Switch between the upper and lower panes by clicking the desired pane or by pressing F6 to
switch panes. Each pane has horizontal and vertical scrollbars to help you move around.You actually build the query by dragging fields from the upper pane to the QBE grid.Figure 4.6 displays an empty QBE grid at the bottom of the Query Designer. The QBE grid has six
labeled rows:l (^) Field: This is where field names are entered or added.
l Table: This row shows the table the field is from. This is useful in queries with multiple
tables.
l Sort: This row enables sorting instructions for the query.
l (^) Show: This row determines whether to display the field in the returned recordset.
l Criteria: This row consists of the criteria that filter the returned records.
l (^) or: This row is the first of a number of rows to which you can add multiple query criteria.
You learn more about these rows as you create queries in this chapter.
The Query Design ribbon (shown in Figure 4.7) contains many different buttons specific to build-
ing and working with queries. Although each button is explained as it’s used in the chapters of this
book, here are the main buttons:
FIGURE 4.7
The Query Design ribbon