Left Joins in Microsoft Query
I have a client who doesn't really know SQL but likes to be able to come up with their own queries from time to time. They've learned to use the Microsoft Query Tool (accessed from Excel/Import External Data/New Database Query) to put their queries together and that's worked well for them up until now.
The trouble is they now need to include left joins (which they'd never heard of until I identified the need yesterday) in some of their queries and I can't seem to work out how to do this in the query tool. You can double click on the link to bring up it's properties and there's a radio group that would allow you to set it as a left join but that refuses if you have more than two tables in the query. There's also a sql window where they can view their query but they don't really have the knowledge to edit the sql themselves.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how they can set a left join in the query tool using nice freindly clicks and drags?
Re: Left Joins in Microsoft Query
The only way is to code the SQL statement yourself.
You could add Queries/Views to whatever database you are using and have them import data from these views rather than accessing the tables.
Re: Left Joins in Microsoft Query
I was hoping to get away from having any involvement at all but it looks like I'm going to stuck with it (short of sitting them down and teaching him SQL properly). The views idea'll be helpful though - at least it means I only need to to do each bit once. Thanks