The SQL Query Builder contains panes and pages. The options that are available depend on the type of statement that you create. The following figure shows the basic layout of the SQL Query Builder.
The builder has three main sections:
- The top pane, which is the SQL Source pane
- The middle pane, which is the Tables pane
- The bottom pane, which is the Design pane
SQL Source pane
The SQL Source pane contains the source code of the SQL statement. You can type the SQL statement in this pane, or use the features that are provided by the SQL Query Builder to build the statement. Content assist is available as you type and through the pop-up menu in the SQL Source pane. This pane also provides content tips through the pop-up menu. A content tip shows a simple example for the type of statement that you are creating.
If you modify the statement in this pane, the statement syntax is checked and the interface is updated when you switch the focus to another pane or to another view.
Tables pane
The Tables pane provides a graphical representation of the table references that are used in the statement. In this pane, you can add or remove a table, give a table an alias, and select or exclude columns from the table. When you build a SELECT statement, you can also define joins between tables in this pane.
If you rearrange the table graphics in the Tables pane and then save the SQL statement, the arrangement of the table graphics reverts to the linear format and the order of the table graphics reverts to their order in the SQL statement.
Design pane
The options in the Design pane vary, depending on the type of statement that you are creating. When more than one set of options is available, the options appear as notebook pages. For example, for a SELECT statement, some of the options include selecting columns, creating conditions, creating groups, and creating group conditions.
Other helpful features
You can open the Expression Builder wizard, which guides you through the creation of complex expressions, from anywhere in the SQL Query Builder that an expression can be specified.
The Outline view, which is to the right of the SQL Query Builder in the default Data perspective, shows the components of an INSERT, WITH, or FULLSELECT statement.