Using the Enhanced Query Builder
Create List's Enhanced query builder (also called the "Enhanced editor") applies an enhanced look and feel to building queries, with a more natural representation of the query structure. The Enhanced query builder can recreate the same queries built in the default Classic editor, but includes these additional capabilities:
- You can apply the In operator, which accepts an arbitrary number of operands. (Note that, if you use this operator, you cannot view or edit queries in the Classic editor.)
- You can assign and group multiple terms for the same target record type and data field.
Building a query in the Enhanced editor predominately follows the same logic as in the Classic editor. The same data considerations described in the Classic editor task descriptions apply to your work in the Enhanced editor. This topic describes the differences you need to know to effectively use of the Enhanced editor.
For data stored on your system as code/description pairs, the Enhanced editor displays the description string. If the display is blank for a given entry, you should assign a non-blank description to the relevant code. The method to assign descriptions varies depending on the data. For example, some descriptive names are specified in the fixed-length field names table.
- Grouping and Ungrouping Conditions and Terms
- Assigning Multiple Terms to a Target Record Type and Field
Grouping and Ungrouping Conditions and Terms
You can control the precedence applied to your search criteria by grouping search terms.
Once you have specified three or more conditions or terms, follow these steps:
- Click the Begin group icon corresponding to the first condition or term in the group.
- Click the Extend group to here icon corresponding to the last condition or term in the group.
If you want to nest groups, repeat this procedure. In many cases, you can more efficiently apply grouping if you specify all of your conditions and terms first.
If you want to ungroup conditions or terms, click Ungroup in the upper-right corner of the group.
To see tool tip labels, hover the pointer over Add, Remove, and grouping icons.
Assigning Multiple Terms to a Target Record Type and Field
You can use the Enhanced query builder to apply multiple terms to a single target record type and data field:
- In the table for search criteria, enter the type of record to search. The record types offered depend on the type of record you chose to store.
- Enter a field or double-click to choose a field from the dialog box.
- Choose an operator.
- Specify an operand.
- To add a row for an additional term, click + to the right of the operand text box .
For example, you can find all bibliographic records that contain "moby", "dick", and "Melville", in any order, in the same note field. However, you cannot duplicate this query in the Classic editor. In the Classic editor, you must specify the record type and data field to search for each word. The result is that each word could appear in a different note field and still satisfy the query. See Applying Terms to Related Entities for detailed information on how the Classic and Enhanced editors handle query terms.