I've been searching the internet for hours trying to figure out if the following is even possible:
To choose the AS400 query records directly from Excel.
I haven't found any solution or description of how this could be achieved, which makes me guess that it's simply not possible. However, I haven't seen anyone confirm that it is impossible.
So my question is: Is this possible? And if it is, could you point me in the right direction in order for me to start learning how to do it?
I know its possible to run a query from Excel, and then adding parameters via SQL statements, but in my case, this presents several problems that could be avoided by choosing the records before the query is executed.
Example:
I have a query with a column (lets call it ColVal) that can hold the values 1 and/or 2. In the AS400 program under the menu "Work with queries" and then "Choose records" I can specify which records the query should contain when it has run based on the value in ColVal. This means i can get three different situations (A, B and C) when i run the query:
A) The query only contains records where the value in ColVal is 1
B) The query only contains records where the value in ColVal is 2
C) The query contains records where the value in ColVal is either 1 or 2
The goal is to be able to choose which situation I want from Excel in order to circumvent opening and using the AS400 program.
However, using situation C and then editing the query in Excel with an SQL statement to mimic situation A or B is not an option, as this means the query still contains undesired records.
This whole thing boils down to the following: Is it even possible to run the query from Excel essentially changing the data it contains and not just outputting it to excel? If this is possible, is it then possible to pass a parameter to the AS400 system and use it to create situation A, B or C?
I hope this example makes sense.
Edit - New example
Say i have different customers A and B. I can open the AS400 program and run a query in which i have specified that I only want data on customer A. I can then open Excel and use filters (as Hambone described) on the query to determine which records I want to output. However, if I want to work with data from customer B, I have to open the AS400 again and run the query with different parameters. I would like to be able to "change" my dataset from customer A to B from Excel, without having to include both in my recordset and then filter out one of them.
I imagined this is doable if you could pass a parameter to the AS400. The AS400 then runs the query using this parameter as the criteria for which records should be stored in the query. This means that if the parameter is Customer B, then there is no way to acces data from customer A, without running the query through AS400 again.
Any ideas are greatly appreciated :)
Follow up to my comment, here is a quick primer on how to run an ODBC query directly in MS Excel using Microsoft Query. This is very different than Power Query, which you referenced, in that MS Query is standard with Excel -- it's not a plug-in. This is relevant because it means everyone has it. If you are deploying a solution to others, that's an important consideration.
To start an MS Query in Excel, go to the data tab, select "From Other Sources" -> "Microsoft Query."
A list of your ODBC connections will come up. Pick the one that you want and select "OK."
It may or may not ask you for a login (depending on which ODBC connection you use and how its configured).
The next part is important. MS Query is going to try to have you use its builder to create the query. If you have the SQL, skip this part. It's horrible. Click "Cancel" on the query wizard, and then click the "SQL" button to enter your own SQL. If you can, make sure the result set is small (like use where 1 = 2 in the query).
When MS Query returns results, click the button next to the SQL Button to have it return the results to the spreadsheet. It looks like a little door.
From here, any time you want to refresh the query, you can simply right-click the data table in Excel and select "refresh." Alternatively you can go to the data tab on the ribbon and select "Refresh."
By the way if you have linked pivot tables and charts, the "Refresh All" option will refresh those as well, in the correct order.
To edit your query at any time, right-click on the table in Excel, go to Table-External Data Properties:
Then Click on the Connection Properties icon (highlighted below)
Click on the second tab (Definition) and edit the SQL Directly.
Parameters can be declared simply by inserting a bare "?" in place of your literal.
In other words, if your query looks like this:
select *
from users
where user_id = 'hambone'
Just change it to:
select *
from users
where user_id = ?
Excel will prompt you for a user id before it runs the query. From here, you also have the option of putting the parameter value in a cell within the spreadsheet and having the query read it from there. You'll see these when you right-click the table and go to the "Parameters" menu option.
Let me know if this helps or is unclear.
-- EDIT 7/23/2018 --
To follow up on your latest edit, it is possible to handle the scenario you describe, where you want to be able to filter on a value, or if none is given, then not have a filter. You see this a lot when you present multiple filter options to the user and you want a blank to mean "no filter," which is obviously counter to the way SQL works.
However, you can hack SQL to still make it work:
select * from activities
where
(activity = ? or ? is null) and
(energy = ? or ? is null)
In this example you have to declare four parameters instead of two, two for each.
You might also have to play with datatypes, depending on the RDBMS (for example for numerics you might have to say ? = 0 instead of ? is null or even ? = '' for text).
Here is a working example where a single filter was applied on the query above and you can clearly see the second one did not have an impact.
Yes it's possible. You need to use an ODBC driver to connect to the AS400 and retrieve the data. The driver and documentation are Here
Related
I'm working on a selection query in my Access database. in one of my columns I wanted to have a drop-down list with selected data. Unfortunately nothing is showing, and I'm thinking about two Problems that can be responsible for this :
The selection wont show up until I link my query to a table where I can modify and select from the drop down list.
I made a mistake in developing but can't find anything about that mistake
Here is the details of whats going on :
What I want
This image is just the result of my query not linked to a table
What I have
Is an actual drop down list without any data in it (still talking about the result of the query not linked to a table in which modification can be made directly)
Here is What I did
Added the queries and tables I'm working on and then =>
Selected the column I wanted it to be a drop-down list and then added the following query after changing it to a drop down list
SELECT [SALARIE_nom] & " " & [SALARIE_prenom]
FROM (T_STATUT_EMPLOI INNER JOIN T_SALARIE_EMPLOI ON T_STATUT_EMPLOI.STATUT_EMPLOI_id = T_SALARIE_EMPLOI.SALARIE_EMPLOI_statut_id) LEFT JOIN R_Select_Salarie ON T_SALARIE_EMPLOI.SALARIE_EMPLOI_salarie_nni = R_Select_Salarie.SALARIE_NNI
WHERE (((T_STATUT_EMPLOI.STATUT_EMPLOI_statut) Like "*validé*") AND ((T_SALARIE_EMPLOI.SALARIE_EMPLOI_Entreprise) Like "*RTE*"));
if I run the sql query on it's own, it gives me the results I want but when trying to see this result in the final table (result table of my query) I got the blank drop-down list.
here is the result I get from executing the query alone :
So I think it's working.
Thank you in advance for reading my explanation and for your comments
I think that everything was fine, and that it was just a bug. After linking my query to a form I started seing the data in the drop-down list in both the form and query.
But I still Have one small issue which is :
Not being able to modify or choose from my drop-down List.
What I did
I created my form using Forms Assistant in access and then I chosed as data source my query. But I can't modify my form or anything could please suggest something to me.
Thank you !
I am trying to import data from a SQL server into power BI. There is a section on the advanced options called SQL statement.
I know that the SQL statement for what I require is:
Select TOP 1000 * from [Table]
How do I write this in the Power Bi at the time of data source / import. So that it runs this statement for each of the tables I plan to import?
You can try this at the time of importing SQL Server data.
After loading data you can keep and remove rows using keep rows as shown below
If all the tables you want are on the same database, then you can navigate to that database as the first step in your query.
From there, filter down to select just the tables you want.
(You can see the preview of the cell selected in the bottom pane.)
Now that you've got the tables you want, you can apply a TopN function to the entire column (I chose top 3).
Table.TransformColumns(#"Filtered Rows",{{"Data", each Table.FirstN(_,3), type table}})
A quick way to add this step is to do a transformation on a text column and then just replace the column and the function applied. For example, if you format the Schema column to UPPERCASE using the GUI, it will add the step
Table.TransformColumns(#"Filtered Rows",{{"Schema", Text.Upper, type text}})
from which you can swap out the column, function, and type for what you actually want (see previous).
At this point, your tables are all trimmed to the top N rows and you can load each one to its own query by right-clicking on the table cell and choosing "Add as New Query". Alternatively, you can right-click on the Database query in the left pane (see the first image) and choose "Reference". This creates a new query from which you can simply click on the Table you want and it will return just that one.
Note: The former method will automatically name the new query after the table you expanded but the latter would work better if you wanted to change your N value since it doesn't recreate the whole query.
Either way, if you right-click on the last applied step in each of these new tables, you can choose "View Native Query" and you can see that the statement passed back to the server is a simple select top 3.
select top 3
[$Table].[DealSpecificKey] as [DealSpecificKey],
[$Table].[DateInvestment] as [DateInvestment],
[$Table].[DateInvestmentKey] as [DateInvestmentKey],
[$Table].[DateRedemption] as [DateRedemption],
[$Table].[DateRedemptionKey] as [DateRedemptionKey]
from [dbo].[AuxDaysInvested] as [$Table]
to export data from an Access 2010 Database I would like to use an Excel template as seen below.
In the first row I can define columns that are in the database. In the second line I can define exactly 1 filter which will be used in the "where" statement.
When pressing a button in Access, a query that is based on the defined columns and filters should be executed and the result will be exported to the Excel.
I am honest, I am not that skilled in VBA. What would be the best point to start from.
Your question is way too broad and as such it should not even be here, but let me give you some points to look at.
First you'll need to get your data from the Excel file. If you are not skilled with VBA, then the easiest way would be opening it through VBA using an Excel.Application object and Workbooks.Open method, and get your values from your Range.
Create an SQL Select statement from your values.
Do not use just a SELECT query, make it a SELECT INTO query (a "make table query" as Access likes to call it). That way your results will be inserted into a (new) table, making it easier to output.
Export your new table to Excel. There are several ways to do this, search for DoCmd.OutputTo or DoCmd.TransferSpreadsheet.
Like a lot of developers who are comfortable with SQL syntax I get frustrated when working with Access's query editor. I'm talking about the raw SQL Syntax view, obviously.
One of its many annoying properties is that upon saving it will discard my layout / formatting. When reopening the query all I see is a bunch of unformatted SQL.
However, if my syntax is long and/or complex enough I've noticed that Access will retain my formatting and layout and, oh joy, the query remains clear and readable. I'm looking at an example right now with a page of SQL containing couple of UNIONs all nicely laid out from a few days ago.
At what point does Access flip over to allowing the user to retain his own formatting? Is it length? Complexity? And is there maybe even a trivial structural edit (if trivial structural isn't an oxymoron) I can make to all my queries which will force Access to leave my layout in place?
There are certain things that Access' query editor is not able to display in design mode.
Queries with UNION are the only thing that come to my mind right now, but there are probably more.
In my experience, Access always changes the layout as long as it's able to display the query in design mode.
As soon as you put something in the query that Access can not display in design mode (like UNION), Access leaves your layout and formatting as it is.
I couldn't figure out why Access kept changing my format in a union query (but not for every query or table included).
I simply created another SELECT query based upon the Union query and corrected everything in design view. It's a lot easier.
When I created the SELET query based upon the UNION query, I included tables or queries that I used as lookup tables and had formatted a field to select the second column from a record in a lookup field that the ubion query had anoyingly converted back to the first field in the selected record (usually the ID No of the record).
For example, I might lookup the account name in a record in the cash disbursements table that should display "Office Supplies Exp" but the Union Query converts at least one of the queries or tables I have combined in the union query to the Account Number, the first record in the lookup table, which was originally hidden in the lookup field.
Just to add to Christian's answer, I've done some more testing and find that UNION and DDL queries are left alone by Access.
If we add Pass through queries to that list, then that would match the queries deemed SQL Specific on the menu:
So, those would seem to be the three special cases.
Before saving just type the word union before the ;.
After opening Access next time, remove the word union and start working. When you want to save, first type union again.
hey guys, could someone show me the simple update query through vb? I need to add new fields to the table (just 3) and add a couple text boxes on a form so that users can add some additional data relative to the record (which is already what this form is based on).
So the first form I have is a form that populates a list, when the user double clicks on a selection from that list, it opens a new form, so that the ID of the the table that is tied to this form that I need to add the these text boxes on (all the combo boxes and text boxes relative to one record are tied to the active form at this point, however there are all unbound. On a button click there is already vb that saves the information to the table). I did not create this however, it was built by someone who is not there anymore, and apparently is better than I at this stuff. My problem is that there is soooo much vb that checks for records, and various sql statements based on case, that I cannot decipher it to its simplest form.
So I was looking for a simple example of an update sql statement in vb so I can try to break this apart.
I need it to update the record based on the ID: sql WHERE RecordID = me.RecordID
I actually thought I knew how to do this based on examples, however every time I try, then try to run on button click, I get a run-time error of SYNTAX error, and the debug just highlights the db.execute(sql) part. So I tried to get the resulting immediate window of the sql statement, and it looks fine to me:
UPDATE tblMain
SET [Name] = "John Doe",
[DATE] = #9/30/2009#,
[TYPE] = "TypeA",
WHERE RecordID = 958;
Can I update a table without accounting for every field in the table (because this one has about 15 plus the new 3, so I am ignoring about 14 fields here, but I do not want to alter those anyway???
So as always, I appreciate the help yall!! Thanks!
EDIT:
Sorry I always forget this....I was actaully trying it DAO....
Dim db as DAO.Database
Dim sql as String
set db = CurrentDb
etc
You were thaaat close! You have a simple extra comma after your last column. Get rid of it and it works fine.
UPDATE tblMain SET
[Name] = "John Doe",
[DATE] = #9/30/2009#,
[TYPE] = "TypeA"
WHERE RecordID = 958;
Yes, you can absolutely update only a few columns rather than all of them. That is a best practice, BTW.
Finally, It's considered bad practice to name your columns after reserved words like "Name" and "Date", but I know you inherited this.
You were wise to include Debug.Print sql in your code. bpayne already pointed out the extra comma in your SQL statement.
I want to point out another trouble shooting technique you may find useful to debug SQL statement problems.
Copy the statement from the Immediate Window, and paste it into the SQL View of a new query. Modify the query in the query designer until you can get it working, then revise your VBA code to generate a matching SQL statement.
In this case you might not have noticed the extra comma. However, you could create another new query and build the UPDATE statement from scratch in the query designer. After getting that one working, you could compare its SQL View to the failing query.