Microsoft Access Tutorial - How to Execute a Query Using the Design View

This tutorial is best done with a database that has more than one table. We will create a query in Microsoft Access using the design view.

1. Open Microsoft Access

Open a database that has multiple tables that you would like to use for this tutorial.

2. Click on Queries

On the main database dialog window on the left pane there are many options under objects, find and click on "Queries."

3. Double-Click on Design View

On the right pane double click on "Design View" to start the wizard. This will bring up a dialog window called 'Show Table." Here there are three tabs on this dialog window. Tables, Queries, and Both are the 3 tabs.

4. Select Tables

In the Table tab, select the tables that you want to use for the query to use for this tutorial. You should select at least two tables. You can choose multiple tables by holding down the control key when you click on the table name. Once you have made your selections click on "Add" and then "Close".

5. Create the Query

In the window called "Query1: Select Query," you will notice that it is separated into two panes. The top pane has two small windows which represent the two tables that you selected. The bottom pane has options that you can change for your query. You can select different fields to display by simply double clicking on the field name that is shown in the little windows on the top.

Once you click on the fields, it will automatically bring them down to the bottom window pane and provide you with the different options and filters you would want to execute with the query. You can choose different sorting options and also add your own criteria for each field on the bottom pane. You can even do JOINs by dragging and dropping two field names that are common between the two tables. For more detail on this see the other readings on Microsoft Access inner join and outer join that I have written. Once you are finished making the changes and have a query in the design view click on that "!" exclamation icon on the toolbar or click "Query -> Run" to see the query you have just executed using the design view.

I normally use SQL view to execute queries but that is just because it is easier for me due to the the flexibility that SQL provides. You can use the design view if you feel more comfortable with the GUI interface that Microsoft Access provides to execute a query.