Query Reference

Query is a flexible way to access and manipulate the contents of outside Databases (DBs) from within its products. It provides for a two-way flow of data between application programs and local or remote DBs using Structured Query Language (SQL) as its database access language. SQL became an ANSI standard in 1986 and an ISO standard in 1987; it is used today in a great many DB application programs management systems.

Query is essentially a programming toolkit which allows the User to create their own macros to carry out functions such as:

• Reading additional attribute data from local or remote DBs.

• Adding object and attribute data to external DBs.

• Adding functionality to existing User interfaces.

The addition of Query to an application program forms a powerful programmable engineering DB system.

Query supports Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), an interface standard for DB access. All components necessary to provide the ODBC interface, such as communications, are internal to ODBC.

A User of Query commands is presented with the same interface and need not be aware of the different ways in which the functionality is provided, except of course when Query or the DB is configured.