Creating queries is a very powerful feature that allows you to control and access the data exactly as you desire. Queries help you manage your data efficiently as your database grows with past, present, and future clients. This section contains some suggestions for creating queries.
Queries can be broad or narrow depending on your data. Broad queries result in retrieving more records than a narrow query. For example, the broad query “loans greater than $100,000” would locate more records than the narrow query “loans equal to $100,000.” Of course, the actual number of records located depends on your data. Use your knowledge of the database to construct narrow or broad queries to meet your specific needs.
In general, avoid creating very complex queries. They can be erroneous and may not locate the records you want. If the query does not locate the desired information, here are a few things to check:
· Check the query. Are the field, operator, and comparison value correct?
· Is the query impossible? For example the query “Loan amounts greater than $150,000 AND loan amounts less than $150,000” will not locate any records. This condition does not work because AND is the connector. In this example, it means that a loan has to be both greater and less than $150,000 to be found by the query, which is impossible.
· Check the fields in the Borrowers and Contacts databases. Are there values that match the query condition and comparison values? The query might be correct, but there may be no data to match the records.
· Before creating queries, it may be helpful to first write down exactly what you want to accomplish. Once you state the query in your own words, determine the corresponding fields, operators, and values needed to construct the query. Consider the following statement:
· “I want to set a group view that includes only Borrowers who have open FHA loans.” To construct the query you need to consider what fields you need to search as well as the possible values contained in each field.
In this example:
Fields: Loan Status, Loan Program
Operators: Exactly matches
Comparison values: OPEN, FHA.
Query: Loan Status exactly matches ”OPEN” AND Loan Program exactly matches “FHA.”