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# About the Criteria Pane

The Criteria pane is used to restrict the rows that are returned by the query. The Criteria defined in this pane are applied before Grouping, if used. Grouping is the graphic equivalent of enclosing condition in parenthesis to impose the order in which they are applied.

Multiple Criteria can be added within the Criteria pane and the criteria can be nested using drag & drop to ensure precedence when using a combination of AND and OR operators.

Adding Criteria to the Query

There are three methods of adding criteria to the Query:

Method 1

1. Ensure the Criteria pane is visible and expanded.
2. Locate the column required in the Schema.
3. Drag the column from the schema on the left to the Criteria pane.

   NOTE:

   |  | If the Column is dropped onto the Criteria pane backdrop, a new Criteria is created using AND at the top nesting level.

   |  | If the Column is dropped onto an existing criteria, a new nested Criteria group is created and the new Criteria is created within that group using AND.

   |  | If the Column is dropped into the square bracket of an existing nested group the criteria is created within that group using AND.

4. Drop the column in the required place according to the note above.
5. The Criteria is created in the relevant place.
6. Configure the new Criteria as required. Refer to Configuring Criteria below.

Method 2

1. Ensure the Criteria pane is visible, expanded and selected.
2. Locate the column required in the schema.
3. Double-click on the Column within the schema.
4. The Criteria is added to any existing Criteria using AND if appropriate.
5. Configured the new Criteria as required. Refer to Configuring Criteria below.

Method 3

1. Ensure the Criteria pane is visible, expanded and selected.
2. Right-click on a column in the Columns pane.
3. Click Add to Criteria.
4. The Criteria is added to any existing Criteria using AND if other Criteria have already been created.
5. Configure the new Criteria as required. Refer to Configuring Criteria below.

Configuring a Criteria

Once a Criteria has been added to the query it is then necessary to complete its configuration. There are many Criteria operators such as `Equal to`, `Not Equal to`, `Is NULL` and `Is not NULL` etc and some are only available to Columns of certain data types.

A criteria may require one or more parameters to be input to complete the criteria. These pieces of information can either be freely input or looked up from the database using the two buttons to the right of the data entry field:

|  | The first button displays the Value dialog box to enable manual inputting of a value.

|  | The second button displays the Column Sample dialog box which lists the available values for selection.

Specify how the new Criteria combines with any other Criteria using `AND` or `OR`. The operator always defaults to `AND` but can be easily toggled from `AND` to `OR` and vice-versa using double-click.

Changing a Criteria

A Criteria can be changed by simply amending the parameters that have been input, if any. To change the operators the Criteria must be reset as follows:

1. Right-click on the Criteria
2. Click Reset from the context menu

The Criteria returns to its original state as if newly added to the query

Removing a Criteria

1. Right-click on the Criteria
2. Click Remove on the context menu

The Criteria is removed from the Query

NOTE:

When a Criteria is Removed from a query, if the nested group which contained the Criteria then contains one or no Criteria, the nested group is removed.

Rearranging Criteria

Once added, Criteria can be rearranged in virtually any combination:

|  | New nested Criteria groups are created by dragging one Criteria onto another.

|  | Criteria can be dragged from one group to another (including the implicit top level group) by dragging them into the relevant square bracket area for that group.

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