Lesson 3	Open a query
Objective	Explain how to create or open a query from the database window.

Creating and Opening Queries from the Database Window

In older versions of Access, the main object list was called the Database window. In modern Microsoft Access (including Microsoft 365), the same role is handled by the Navigation Pane on the left side of the screen. Regardless of the version, the idea is the same: you start in a central window or pane that lists all the objects in your database—tables, queries, forms, and reports— and from there you create or open the queries you need.

This lesson shows you, step by step, how to:

Create a new query using the ribbon and Query Design tools.
Create a new query by using the Simple Query Wizard.
Open an existing query from the Navigation Pane / Database window.
Switch between Datasheet view and Design view to analyze or edit the query.

Understanding the Queries area

In the Navigation Pane (or the classic Database window), Access groups objects by type. You will see sections such as:

Tables – where your data is stored.
Queries – saved questions you ask about the data.
Forms – screens for data entry and review.
Reports – formatted output for printing or export.

To focus on queries, you can filter the Navigation Pane by Object Type and then expand the Queries group. This gives you a clean list of all saved queries in the database, making it easy to open or manage them.

Open a query — Conceptual view of the Access Database window / Navigation Pane, showing Tables, Queries, Forms, and Reports. The highlighted query example (*Hours by Project*) can be opened directly for analysis.

Creating a new query from the Database window

You can create a new query in more than one way. In Microsoft 365, the recommended pattern is to start from the Create tab on the ribbon, then choose whether you want a wizard-driven experience or full control in Design view.

Create a query in Design view
1. Open your Access database and make sure the Navigation Pane is visible.
2. On the ribbon, click the Create tab.
3. In the Queries group, click Query Design.
4. In the Show Table dialog box, select the tables (and/or existing queries) you want to include and click Add, then Close.
5. Use the upper pane to manage tables and joins, and the lower grid to choose fields, set criteria, and define sort order.
6. Click Run on the Design tab to view the results in Datasheet view.
7. Click Save, give the query a meaningful name (for example, qryHoursByProject), and confirm.
In older versions that display a Database window, you can also start this process by choosing Create query in Design view from the Queries section, which opens the same Query Design interface.
Create a query using the Simple Query Wizard
1. On the Create tab, in the Queries group, click Query Wizard.
2. Choose Simple Query Wizard and click OK.
3. Select the table or query you want to use, then move the desired fields into the Selected Fields list.
4. Choose whether you want a detailed or summary view if the wizard offers that option.
5. Provide a name for the new query and choose whether to open it immediately or modify the design.
The Simple Query Wizard is a fast way to build a basic query that you can later refine in Design view.

Opening an existing query

Once a query has been saved, you can open it from the Navigation Pane / Database window in several ways, depending on whether you want to view results or edit the design.

Open a query to view data (Datasheet view)
- In the Navigation Pane, locate the Queries group.
- Double-click the query name (for example, Hours by Project).
- The query runs and opens in Datasheet view, showing the current results.
Open a query in Design view
- Right-click the query in the Navigation Pane and choose Design View, or
- Select the query, then use the View drop-down on the Home tab to select Design View.
Design view lets you change which fields are included, adjust joins, add criteria, or convert a simple query into a more complex analysis tool.
Switch between Datasheet and Design views
- When a query is open, use the View button on the ribbon (or the View icon on the document tab) to toggle between Datasheet view and Design view.
- This is a common workflow: run the query, review results, then return to Design view to fine-tune the logic.

In the rest of this module, you will use all of these approaches—creating queries from the ribbon, using the Simple Query Wizard, and opening existing queries from the Navigation Pane—to build and refine queries that help you analyze your data more effectively.

In the next lesson, you will create a query with the Simple Query Wizard and then switch to Design view to enhance it further.