A query describes a dataset of Microsoft Dynamics NAV data. Queries retrieve records from one or more tables and combine the records into rows and columns in a single dataset. You create queries in the development environment using Query Designer. To create a query, you define data items and columns. A data item specifies the table to retrieve records from. A column specifies a field of the table to include in the resulting dataset of a query. After you have added the data items and columns, you create links between the data items. A data item link determines which records to include in the dataset based on a common field between two data items. For more information, see Understanding Data Item Links.

To create a query and add data items and columns

  1. In the development environment, on the Tools menu, choose Object Designer.

  2. In Object Designer, choose Query, and then choose New.

  3. In Query Designer, on the first line, in the Type column, choose DataItem from the drop-down list.

    Note
    The first line in Query Designer must be a DataItem and not a Column.

  4. In the Data Source column, enter the name of the table from which you want to add fields. To select the table from the Table List window, choose the up arrow.

  5. In the Name column, verify the default name or enter a Common Language Specification (CLS)-compliant name for the data item. The first character must be a letter. Subsequent characters can be any combination of letters, integers, and underscores.

    For more information, see the "Naming" section in Common Language Specification in the MSDN Library.

    Warning
    All DataItem and Column rows must have unique names.

  6. In Query Designer, on the next line, in the Type column, choose Column from the drop-down list.

  7. In the Data Source column, enter a field that you want to include in the query dataset. To select one or more fields from the Field List window, choose the up arrow.

    Note
    Fields are indented one level from the parent data item.

  8. In the Name column, enter a CLS-compliant name for the field.

  9. In the user interface for the query results, such as in a chart, the name of the underlying table field is displayed for the query column. If you want to display a different name for the column, then change the Caption Property or CaptionML Property.

    Note
    When you run the query from Object Designer, the About This Query window that opens in the RoleTailored client displays the name that is defined by the Name property of the column, not the Caption property or CaptionML property.

  10. Continue to enter DataItems and Columns in Query Designer until it contains all fields from all tables that you want to include in the query.

    Note
    You must have at least one Column in the query. You are not required to have one Column for each DataItem.

To link data items

  1. In Query Designer, choose the lower data item.

    A data item must be linked to the data item or data items above it. You create the link from the lower data item in Query Designer.

  2. On the View menu, choose Properties.

  3. In the Properties window, in the Value column of DataItemLink property, choose the AssistEdit button.

    The Data Item Link window opens. You will use the Data Item Link window to create a reference link between a field in the table of the lower data item and a field in the table of the upper data item.

  4. In the Field column of the first line, choose the up arrow.

    The Field List window opens to display all the fields in the table of the lower data item.

  5. In the Field List window, choose the field from the table of the lower data item, and then choose OK to close the Field List window.

  6. In the Reference DataItem column of the same line of the DataItem List window, choose the up arrow.

    The Field List window opens to display all the fields in the table of the upper data item.

  7. In the Field List window, choose the field from the table of the upper data item that is common to the field of the lower data item, and then choose OK to close the Field List window.

  8. Choose OK to return to the Properties window.

  9. In the Value column of the DataItemLinkType property, choose one of the values described in the following table.

    Value Description

    Use Default Values If No Match

    The resulting dataset will include all the records from the upper data item, even if a record does not have a matching value in the linked field of lower data item as specified by the DataItemLink property. When a record does not have a matching record in the lower data item, the columns from the lower data item include the default value for the data type of the table field that specifies the column. For example, if the field has an integer data type, then the default value is 0.

    Exclude Row If No Match

    The resulting dataset will include only records from data item tables that have matching values for the fields that are linked by the DataItemLink property.

    SQL Advanced Options

    Provides alternatives to Use Default Values If No Match and Exclude Row If No Match for generating a dataset that corresponds to joins in SQL SELECT statements. When you set the property to SQL Advanced Options, the SQLJoinType property appears so that you can select the SQL join type.

  10. If you set the DataItemLinkType property to SQL Advanced Options, then set the SQLJoinType property. For more information, see SQL Advanced Options for Data Item Link Types.

  11. Close the Properties window.

To save the query

  1. On the File menu, choose Save.

  2. In the Save As window, in the ID field, enter an ID for the query object. The ID must be in a valid range for your solution. In the Name field, enter a name for the query, verify that the Compiled check box is selected, and then choose the OK button.

See Also