WinStudio

About Query Forms

Query forms allow users to create a filter to specify the collection they want to retrieve. The filter can be temporary (existing as long as the query form is open), or it can be saved by the user, to be used again.

Query forms are split horizontally into two panes. The upper pane contains tabs for primary criteria and additional criteria. The lower pane displays the returned results set in a grid.

 Each IDO must be associated with a unique query form.

Query forms are typically created in association with a particular form or component:

• For forms, query forms are usually assigned at the time the form is created, though they can be added or reassigned later.
• Query form assignments are made or changed:
• For forms, on the Form properties sheet, using the Behavior > Filter Form property setting
• For components, only by using a component class, with valid settings for Behavior > Add/Details and Find Form > Find Form in the component class definition

  NOTE: When assigning a query form to a component class, you must also set the Property attribute in the Behavior > Add/Details and Find Form group.

The result set displayed on the query form can be returned to the calling form or to the calling component. The result set becomes the current collection in the calling form. A selected IDO item in the result set becomes the current item or current component value.

Query forms cannot be linked.

Performing a Query

To perform a query using a query form:

1. Open the query form using one of these methods:
   • Select the query form directly in the Explorer.
   • For a form, from the Actions menu select Filter > By Query.
   • For a component, right-click on the component and then select the Find option from the context menu.
2. Decide what Primary Criteria, if any, you want to filter on and include both an operator and a value to use for the filter.
   NOTES:

   • Any Primary Criteria for which the operator and value are not both specified autmatically returns all possible values for that criteria.
   • You can use one or more wildcard characters (by default, an asterisk) for all or part of the value.
3. Optionally, decide what other criteria you want to include in your query, and specify these on the Additional Criteria tab.
4. Click Refresh.
5. Optionally, to clear the results and initiate a new query, perhaps with modified search criteria, click Clear.
6. To return the results of a satisfactory query to the parent form, click OK. To return to the parent form without returning the results of the query, click Cancel.

Specifying Criteria on Query Forms

When you create a query form using the WinStudio wizard, you specify:

• What IDO properties are to be included
• Whether they are placed on the Primary Criteria tab or the Additional Criteria tab

Primary criteria are those properties considered to be the most important criteria or the criteria users will most likely want to search on. Additional criteria are all other criteria that users might want to search on but not thought likely to be their first choices.

When performing a query:

• Users are not required to specify any criteria—though that rather defeats the purpose of performing a query. Any primary criteria not specified includes all possible records in the return results. So, if you perform a query without specifying any filter criteria, then all records are returned in the result.

• Primary criteria have an assumed Boolean AND relationship. That is, items are retrieved from the database only if they meet all the specified criteria.

• Additional criteria are optional and can be joined by either AND or OR, depending on how you want to submit the query. If multiple criteria are joined by OR, records are returned if they meet any one of the criteria.

You enter query criteria by selecting an operator and a value for each property listed on the Primary Criteria tab. You can use the wildcard character (by default, the asterisk).

To add other properties, with appropriate operators and values, to the filter, you can also use the Additional Criteria tab.

To display the results of your query, click the Refresh button. The results then display in the Results pane.

To close the query form and optionally return the results to any calling form or component, click OK.

Related Topics

Creating Query Forms

About Multiview Forms

Creating Multiview Forms

About Grid-Only Forms

Creating Grid-Only Forms

About Building Forms from Scratch

Creating Forms from Scratch