Query Techniques

You may query FIS Banner forms when you do not know the appropriate information to enter in a field or when seeking specific information already entered in the database. Query includes inquiry forms and most application forms. The two different types of Query screens are Search Form and Find Form.

Several forms open in query mode. These forms display the message “Enter query” in the status line. A form opens in query mode when the number of records to be retrieved is so large a significant display delay may occur.

How to do a Search Query
Using Wildcards in a Search Query
Querying on a Checkbox
Querying on a Year
Querying on Specific Dates
Count Hits
Querying in an LOV (Find Form)

How to do a Search Query

1. Go to the form you want to query.
    
2. If the form opens in query mode (has "Enter query" in status line), go to Step 3. To enter query mode, either type [F7], select Query > Enter from the menu bar, or click the Enter Query toolbar icon.
    
3. Once the form is in query mode, enter your query (search) criteria.

• You can query on any field where you can place the cursor.
   
• Use the Oracle wildcards (_ or %) as you enter your search parameters.

4. Once you have entered your query, you execute the query. Either type [F8], select Query > Execute from the menu bar, or click the Execute Query toolbar icon.

The form will search the FIS Banner database. All records matching the query are displayed.

5. When a usable list of records displays, place the cursor in the selected record. To return to the originating form with a selection, either type [shift F3] Exit with Value, double-click on the selected record, click the Select icon in the toolbar, or choose File > Select from the menu bar.

Tip: When performing more than one query in a row, simply type [F7] Enter Query again. Banner automatically queries the entire table, not just the limited version previously retrieved.

Using Wildcards in a Search Query

To aid in query, FIS Banner allows two wildcard characters. Both stand for any alpha-numeric character. They are “_” representing only one character and “%” representing any number of characters.

To get these results	Enter this criteria
All entries that contain ma	%ma%
All entries that begin with ma	ma%
All entries that have ma as the final two characters	%ma
All entries that have m as the second character	_m%

Tip: Wildcards can be used many times in one search. Remember the search is case sensitive, meaning that upper and lower case must match exactly.

Querying on a Checkbox

To query on a checked state, put the form in query mode, check the box, and then execute the query.

Querying on a Year

If your query includes a date (2005), you need to enter both the century (20) and the year (05). If you only enter the two-digit year without the use of wildcards, FIS Banner automatically expands the year to include a century of 00 (0099).

Querying on Specific Dates

Most dates stored in FIS Banner include a time. Although you can’t see the time stamp, it is part of the date record and can affect the results of a query. When you enter a date as part of your query criteria, Banner adds a time of 00:00:00 to the query. You could then see the message “Query caused no records to be retrieved. Re-enter." If you re-enter the query using a wildcard, such as %26-JUN-1995, you will receive records with a date of 26-JUN-1995. If you reenter the query using a greater than criteria, such as >25-JUN-1995, you will receive all records with a date greater than 25-JUN-1995.

Count Hits

If you want to know how many records match your query criteria before you execute the query, type [shift F2], or select Query > Count Hits from the menu bar. The form checks the database and displays an Auto Hint message like “Query will retrieve 11 records.”

Querying in an LOV (Find Form)

There are two different types of query screens: the Find form and the Search form. When you see LIST Available in the status line, the field may have a List of Values (LOV). A List of Values contains the codes and descriptions entered on validation forms.

1. To display the List of Values, either type [F9], click the Search icon , or select Help > List from the menu bar.
    
2. When an LOV pops up, it automatically queries all of its values.
   - Smaller queries bring up a Find Box (as seen below.) You can scroll through the list and select the value, then click OK to bring your value back into your field. Or, to limit the number of values displayed, you can enter query criteria into the Find box. You may use wildcards; one is already entered in the query box to help you. Click the Find button, then select your value and click OK to bring your value back into your field.
   
   - For larger queries, you can query on enterable fields with specific criteria.
   Enter query mode (either [F7], Query > Enter from menu bar, or clicking Enter Query toolbar icon). Enter your criteria using wildcards if necessary, then Execute Query (either [F8], Query > Execute from menu bar, or clicking Execute Query toolbar icon).
   
   Note: Using a Find form to query a validation table is different than using a Search form. A Find form is not case sensitive; but it can be tricky. Records are not displayed in fields, as in the Search query forms, but in a single line. In the example below, the first record is “ADJAdjustmentstoInventory11-OCT-1993,” all one line. The % automatically defaults into the Find field. As you type your criteria, it will automatically reduce the number of record returns until you find your choice.
   

3. To exit with the value, highlight the selected value and click the OK button, press [Enter], or double-click on the selection.

Note: The [F8] key cannot be used to execute a Find query; the “Find” button must be clicked.


Tip: You can expand the Find form window by positioning the cursor over any window edge and dragging.

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You may, without clicking anywhere, also type the letter you think begins the correct answer (as shown below). FIS Banner automatically goes to the answers that start with the letter.