QUERY provides an interactive SQL interface as well as a report generator (REPORT).
SQL statements are entered directly on the screen by means of QUERY. The result is shown as a table in a standard format. It can be scrolled through on the screen and output on a printer or in a file.
With the report generator REPORT, result tables can be put into the desired output format step by step. After each individual REPORT command, the report will be displayed in the current format.
QUERY offers application programmers the opportunity of interactively testing the SQL statements that they want to use in programs.
Frequently recurring queries are stored as parameterized SQL statements together with a sequence of REPORT commands. When called via an input form or a command name, they provide a completely prepared report as the result.
Call privileges can be granted to other users for such stored commands. Via the LIST function, QUERY provides an individual menu of all stored commands which a user can currently call.
By virtue of the stored commands, QUERY becomes an attractive tool also at the departmental level because knowledge of SQL is no longer required. In addition, it is possible to call stored commands directly from the operating system level and thus to execute commands with long runtimes in batch operation.
QUERY provides a high level of support: The executed commands for each session are held in a command history and can be called again at any time. The language for the prompts and the most important characteristics of the standard format can be set individually.
REPORT displays the prepared report on the screen, writes it into a file, or outputs it on a printer. When printing, various page formats can be defined.
For master-detail structures, it is possible to display them simply in a report and to page back and forth on the master level as well as on the detail level.
Calculation fields are supported in reports: e.g., to accumulate results on the group level. Cross tables can be built and evaluated in subsequent queries.
Stored QUERY commands and REPORT can also be called from application programs. It is therefore not necessary to invent a vertical and horizontal scrolling within result tables for every application. The results of the calculation fields defined in a report can be transferred to the application program after a REPORT call.