Creating queries on a single table, as you did in Chapter 9, is a good way to get acquainted with the basic mechanics of the query designer. It’s also useful to work with simple queries to understand how datasheets work.
However, for many tasks, you’ll need to build a query on multiple tables or queries (yes, you can build a query on a query!), calculate totals, add parameters, customize query properties, or work in SQL view. In fact, there are some types of queries that you can build only in SQL view. This chapter shows you how.
When you build an application, you should never allow users to view or edit data directly from table or query datasheets. Although, with Microsoft Access 2010, you can protect the integrity of your data with data macros to enforce more complex business rules, we still recommend you do all your data entry, editing, and reviewing through forms and reports. If you’re working with a web database using Access Services, you cannot view query datasheets in the browser, but you can see the results of web queries in your forms and reports.
The purpose of this chapter is to teach you the concepts you must learn to build the queries you’ll need for your forms and reports. You’ll also learn how to create web queries for Access Services applications.