Touring a Query

To locate and retrieve information in a table (or in multiple tables), you create a query. A query is simply a question that you ask a database to help you locate specific information. For example, if you want to know which customers placed orders in the last six months, you can create a query to examine the contents of the Order Date field and to find all the records in which the purchase date is less than six months ago. Access retrieves the data that meets the specifications in your query and displays that data in table format. You can sort that information or retrieve just a subset of its contents with still more specific criteria, so that you can focus on exactly the information you need ”no more or less.

Open and Run a Query

In the Database window, click Queries on the Objects bar.

Click the query you want to run.

Click the Open button.

The query opens in a table called a dynaset. The dynaset displays the records that meet the specifications set forth in the query.

View a Query in Design View

In the Database window, click Queries on the Objects bar.

Click the query you want to run.

Click the Design button.

In Design view, you can see the criteria that specify what records to include in the dynaset.