DataConnect uses a tile-based query builder. The query designer is split into a number of areas.
Entities Panel
The entites panel is where you will find your tables, views, columns, stored procedures and SQL functions.
You can double click or drag these entites on to your designer canvas. They appear as tiles on the canvas.
Designer Canvas
The designer canvas is where you build your query. By dragging or double clicking on items in the entity panel, they appear on the designer canvas.
Designer Canvas Tabs
The designer canvas is seperated into sections by a set of tabs along the top. These are Select, From, Join, Where, Group and Order. Each tab represents a distinct part (clause) in your query.
Which ever tab you have selected is where any items dragged or double-clicked from the entity panel will appear.
Designer Canvas Quick Bar
The design canvas quick bar gives you quick access to common features.
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You can drag in parenthesis (brackets) to enforce logical groupings
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Drag in an @ symbol to insert a special parameter
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Drag in a C to create a constant
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Drag in N to use a NULL value
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Use the pop-up menu from F to drag in an SQL function.
The quick bar changes according to which designer canvas tab you are working with.
Designer Control Buttons
The designer control buttons allow you to
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Switch to manual mode. A mode where you enter SQL text manually without using the tile interface
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Save the query
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Cancel (undo) any changes since your last save
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Refresh the and revalidate the query.
Designer Overview
The designer overview is where you can see an overview of your complete query, from a tile or SQL text perspective, and where you can preview your query results and set parameter values.
Designer Overview Tabs
The designer overview tabs allow to change what you are viewing in the designer overview.
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Query Overview gives you a preview of your entire query in tile form. Any errors will be highlighted in red, and will show error details on a mouseover.
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SQL lets you see the underlying SQL text that the query design has generated.
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Data Preview is where you can see the input and output parameters for your query, and preview the results of your query.
Designer Overview Data Preview Tab
The design overview data preview allows you to see the output and input parameters for your query. You can also set test values for your input parameters to you can use the preview button.