Writing SQL Statements

Structured Query Language (usually referred to as SQL) is the language you use to specify the data included in a Recordset. It can also provide you with the vehicle for specifying changes to data through the Database object's Execute method.

You can use a SQL Select statement in the form of a string as the first argument to the Database object's OpenRecordset method when you want to open either a dynaset or snapshot-type Recordset.

You also can use a SQL statement to update data and even modify database structure (such as table definitions and fields) when you pass such a statement in a string to the Database object's Execute method.

The following sections under this heading detail some of the more important features of SQL Select statements.

• Writing SQL Statements that Retrieve and Modify Data
        Using the Where Clause to Filter Rows
        Using the Order By Clause to Logically Sort Rows

• Writing SQL Statements that Use Joins to Combine Data from Multiple Tables
        Using the Where Clause to Connect Tables
        Using JOIN Clauses to Connect Tables