Structured Query Language

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a special language used to manipulate and query
data in a database.

Basic Structure of SELECT query

SELECT query is used to display specific data from one or tables in a database.

SELECT <field names to be displayed>

FROM <table(s) that contain those fields>
WHERE <criteria for the query>
NOTE: Can use SELECT * if you want to list all fields in a table.

Examples used in this document will reference this table (CD) that contains the following fields:
• Artist (text)
• CD_name (text)
• Genre (text)
• ReplacementValue (Currency)
• OwnerID (Number)

Examples:
SQL Statement Description
SELECT * FROM CD Display all the fields of the CD table.

Display only the Artist and CD name fields of

SELECT Artist, CD_Name FROM CD the CD table.

Display all the fields of the CD table but only the

SELECT * FROM CD WHERE Genre = “Rock” records where the Genre is “Rock”.

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Different types of criteria
The following section will cover examples of criteria that are used in the WHERE clause.
NOTE: Assume that these queries have a SELECT * FROM CD above the where clause.

• WHERE clause with normal operators ( = , <> , >= , <= , > and < )
Examples Description
Where the replacement value is EQUAL to
WHERE ReplacementValue = 100 R100.

Where genre is NOT EQUAL to Rock

WHERE Genre <> “Rock” NOTE: Text values must have double quotes.

Where the replacement value is GREATER

WHERE ReplacementValue >= 120 THAN 120.

Where the Artist starts with a letter A, B, C, D

WHERE Artist < “F” or E only. (Just before F but doesn’t include F).

Where HasPaid is TRUE

WHERE HasPaid = TRUE (If HasPaid was a boolean field)

• WHERE clause with multiple criteria using the AND and OR operators
Examples Description
WHERE ReplacementValue = 100 AND
Genre = “Rock” All Rock CD’s with a replacement value of R100.

All Rock CD’s (regardless of replacement value)

WHERE ReplacementValue = 100 OR Genre
or all CD’s with a replacement value of R100
= “Rock”
(regardless of genre).
WHERE ReplacementValue >= 120 AND Where the replacement value is between R120
ReplacementValue <= 150 and R150 (inclusive).

All Rock CD’s (regardless of replacement value)

WHERE Genre = “Rock” OR Genre = “Jazz” as well as All Jazz CD’s with a replacement value
AND ReplacementValue = 150 if R150.
NOTE: AND operator takes precedence over OR.

All Rock or Jazz CD’s with a replacement value of

WHERE ( Genre = “Rock” OR Genre = “Jazz” ) R150.
AND ReplacementValue = 150 NOTE: Brackets are evaluated first.

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 • WHERE clause with the NOT operator
Examples Description
Where genre is NOT equal to Pop.
WHERE NOT Genre = “Pop” (Same as Genre <> “Pop” )

Where replacement value is NOT greater than

WHERE NOT ReplacementValue > 100 R100. (Same as ReplacementValue <= 100)

• WHERE clause with the BETWEEN operator

Examples Description
WHERE ReplacementValue BETWEEN 120 Where the replacement value is between R120
AND 150 and R150 (inclusive).

Where Artist starts with an A, B, C, D or E. (Just

WHERE Artist BETWEEN “A” AND “F” before F but doesn’t include starts with F)

• WHERE clause with the IS NULL operator

Examples Description
WHERE Artist IS NULL Where the artist field is empty / blank.

Where the artist field contains something (not

WHERE Artist IS NOT NULL blank or empty).

• WHERE clause with the IN operator

Examples Description
WHERE ReplacementValue IN (100, 120, Where the replacement value is either R100, or
150) R120 or R150.

WHERE Genre IN (“Rock”, “Jazz”, “Pop”) Where the genre is either Rock or Jazz or Pop.

• WHERE clause with the LIKE operator o * (star symbol) means nothing or
anything (any amount of characters) o ? means any ONE character (Can not be
empty)
Examples Description
WHERE Artist LIKE “M*” Where the artist starts with the letter ‘M’.

WHERE Artist LIKE “*son” Where the artist ends with an ‘son’.

Where the artist has an ‘be’ somewhere in the

WHERE Artist LIKE “*be*” field.

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 Where the artist has M as a first character & then
WHERE Artist LIKE “M???” any 3 other characters after it. (In other words,
where artist is any 4 letter beginning with an M)

Sorting and Unique records

When wanting to sort the data in your query, you use the ORDER BY clause.

SELECT <field names to be displayed> FROM

<table(s) that contain those fields>
WHERE <criteria for the query>
ORDER BY <field name> <ASC or DESC>

• The ORDER BY clause always comes after the WHERE clause.

(after the FROM clause if there is no where clause)
• If you just mention the field name, then it is assumed to be ascending.
• Use the code ASC for ascending and DESC for descending (must be capitals).
• If you sort by multiple fields, then you separate each field by a comma.

Examples Description
ORDER BY ReplacementValue Sort by replacement value in ascending order

ORDER BY Genre ASC Sort by genre in ascending order

ORDER BY Genre DESC Sort by genre in descending order

Sort first by genre in ascending order, then for

ORDER BY Genre ASC, Artist DESC genres that are the same, sort by Artist in
descending order.

For unique values in a field of duplicates you use the keyword DISTINCT before the field
names in the SELECT clause.
Examples Description
Display all the genres in the CD table with no
SELECT DISTINCT Genre FROM CD duplicates.

Display all the combinations of genres and

SELECT DISTINCT Genre, Artist FROM CD artists in the CD table that are unique.

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Calculations in a query
You may add a calculated field to your query in the SELECT clause.
• You may give this calculated field a name by following the calculation with the AS
operator and then the name of the calculated field.
• If you use current fields in your calculations, make sure they are spelt as they are
in the database table.
• If a field contains spaces in its name, use square brackets around the full field
name when referring to it.

Examples Description
SELECT Artist, ReplacementValue, Displays a third field called VAT that is 15% of
15/100 * ReplacementValue AS VAT the replacement value.

SELECT Artist,CD_name, ReplacementValue, Displays a fourth field called Final Cost that is
ReplacementValue + 30 AS [Final Cost] the replacement value plus an additional R30.

You can’t use the calculated fields name in the WHERE or ORDER BY clause.
• If you need a criteria based on the calculation field then restate the calculation in
the WHERE clause.

Example: WHERE 15/100 * ReplacementValue >= 25

• If you need to sort by the calculated field, you can refer to the calculated field by
the number of that field in the query. Every field mentioned in the SELECT clause
is numbered, starting at 1. So with the following select statement:
SELECT Artist, ReplacementValue, 15/100 * ReplacementValue AS VAT
Artist is field 1, ReplacementValue is field 2 and VAT is field 3.
To sort by VAT you refer to it’s number and whether you want ASC or DESC

Example: ORDER BY 3 ASC

Functions in the calculated fields

• FORMAT function displays the field in a specified format.
o Parameters are first the field name or calculation followed by the required
format IN DOUBLE QUOTES
o This is considered a calculated field, so you need to provide a new name
with the AS operator
Examples Description
SELECT Artist, ReplacementValue,
Displays the calculated field in a currency
FORMAT(15/100 * ReplacementValue ,
format.
“Currency” ) AS VAT
SELECT Artist, CD_name, FORMAT( Displays the replacement value to TWO decimal
ReplacementValue , “Fixed” ) AS Value places with the field name: Value.

SELECT Artist, CD_name, FORMAT( Displays the replacement value to ONE decimal
ReplacementValue , “0.0” ) AS Value place with the field name: Value.
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 • ROUND function rounds off the field or calculation.
o Parameters are first the field name or calculation followed by the number of
decimal places to be returned.
 ROUND ( 25.756 , 2 ) returns a value of 25.76
 ROUND ( 25.753 , 2 ) returns a value of 25.75
 ROUND ( 25.753 , 0 ) returns a value of 26

Examples Description
SELECT Artist, ReplacementValue,
Displays the calculated field rounded to 2
ROUND(15/100 * ReplacementValue , 2 ) AS
decimal places.
VAT
SELECT Artist, CD_name, Displays the replacement value rounded to zero
ROUND( ReplacementValue , 0 ) AS Value decimal places.

• INT function removes the decimal part of the value.

 INT ( 25.3 ) returns a value of 25
 INT ( 25.7 ) returns a value of 25

Examples Description
SELECT Artist, ReplacementValue, Displays the calculated field as a whole number
INT(15/100 * ReplacementValue) AS VAT (NOT rounded).

• STR function converts a numerical field or calculation into text to be used with text
functions.
Examples Description
Displays the second field (called Details) in the
SELECT Artist, STR(ReplacementValue) + “ format of the replacement value with text
per order” AS Details added at the end:
Example: 130 per order

• LEN function returns the number of characters in the given text parameter.
 LEN ( “Hello” ) returns a value of 5
 LEN ( “Hello World” ) returns a value of 11

Examples Description
Displays the second field (called Chars In Name)
SELECT Artist, LEN( Artist ) AS [Chars with the number of characters in each artist
In Name] field

• UCASE function returns all the letters in the text field as upper case letters.
• LCASE function returns all the letters in the text field as lower case letters.
 UCASE ( “Hello” ) returns a value of HELLO
 LCASE ( “Pop Rock” ) returns a value of pop rock
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 Examples Description
SELECT Artist, UCASE( CD_name ) Displays the CD names in all capital letters.

SELECT Artist, LCASE( Genre ) Displays the genres in all small letters.

• LEFT function copies a specific number of characters from the left side of the
given text parameter.
• RIGHT function copies a specific number of characters from the right side of the
given text parameter.
o Parameters are first the text field name or calculation followed by the
number of characters to copy.
 LEFT ( “Hello World” , 4 ) returns a value of Hell
 RIGHT ( “Hello World” , 4 ) returns a value of orld

Examples Description
SELECT Artist, LEFT( Artist , 1 ) AS Displays the second field (called Artist Initial)
[Artist Initial] with the first character of the artist field.

SELECT Artist, RIGHT( Genre , 4 ) AS Displays the second field (called Last_Value)
Last_Value with the last 4 characters of the genre field.

• MID function copies a specific number of characters from a specified position in

the given text parameter.
o Parameters are first the text field name or calculation followed by the character’s
position to start copying from followed by the number of characters to copy.
 MID ( “Hello World” , 4 , 5 ) returns a value of lo Wo
 MID ( “Hello World” , 7 , 3 ) returns a value of Wor

This works like the copy function in Delphi !!

Examples Description
Displays the second field (called Random Text)
SELECT Artist, MID( Artist , 3, 2 ) AS with the third and fourth characters of the
[Random Text] artist field.

Aggregate functions
These functions can be used to perform statistical or aggregate summaries on multiple
records in a database table.
• They are used in the SELECT clause and need a field name with the AS operator.
• Use the function name with a field name as a parameter.
• The following functions can ONLY be used on numerical fields (Fields that contain
numbers: integers, currency, etc):
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 o SUM – returns the sum of the values in the specified field. o AVG –
returns the average of the values in a specified field. o MIN –
returns the smallest value in a specified field.
o MAX – returns the largest value in a specified field.

Examples Description
SELECT SUM( ReplacementValue ) AS Total Displays the total replacement value of ALL
FROM CD CD’s in the table.

SELECT AVG( ReplacementValue ) AS

Displays the average replacement value of just
[Average Muse] FROM CD
the CD’s from the artist: Muse.
WHERE Artist = “Muse”
SELECT MIN( ReplacementValue ) AS
Displays the cheapest (smallest) replacement
[Cheapest Rock] FROM CD
value of just the Rock CD’s.
WHERE Genre = “Rock”
SELECT MAX( ReplacementValue ) AS [Most Displays the most expensive (largest)
Expensive] FROM CD replacement value of ALL the CD’s in the table.

• The COUNT functions can be used on any field.

• COUNT( * ) can also be used if you do not want to specify a field name.
• This function returns the number of records in the query.

Examples Description
SELECT COUNT( * ) AS TotalRecords FROM Displays the total number (how many) of
CD records in the CD table.

SELECT COUNT( * ) AS [Total Rock] Displays the total number (how many) of Rock
FROM CD WHERE Genre = “Rock” CD’s.

SELECT MIN( ReplacementValue ) AS

Displays the cheapest (smallest) replacement
[Cheapest Rock] FROM CD
value of just the Rock CD’s.
WHERE Genre = “Rock”
SELECT COUNT( ReplacementValue ) AS Displays the total number (how many) of
[Number of Prices] FROM CD records that have a replacement value entered.

NOTE: The examples shown above will only display ONE block with ONE value in it.

Grouping results
There aggregate functions mentioned above only display ONE result. If you want to
display multiple results, based on groups of records, then you add the GROUP BY
clause after the WHERE clause.
• If you use the ORDER BY clause, then it will appear AFTER the GROUP BY
clause.

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 • Rule: the moment you have more than one field in the SELECT clause with an
aggregate function, then you will always use the GROUP BY clause with the fields
that are NOT in the aggregate function.

SELECT <field name(s)> , <Aggregate function with field>

FROM <table(s) that contain those fields>
WHERE <criteria for the query>
GROUP BY <field name(s)>

ORDER BY <field name> <ASC or DESC>

Examples Description
SELECT Genre , Displays the average replacement value for each
AVG( ReplacementValue ) AS Average_Cost genre.
FROM CD Example: Rock R123.00
GROUP BY Genre Jazz R150.00…..
SELECT Artist , Displays the cheapest replacement value for
MIN ( ReplacementValue ) AS Cheapest_CD each artist.
FROM CD Example: Aaliyah R125.00
GROUP BY Artist Akon R160.00….
SELECT Genre , Displays the most expensive replacement value
MAX(ReplacementValue) AS MostExpensive for each genre (ordered from most expensive
FROM CD to least expensive).
GROUP BY Genre Example: Pop R200.00
ORDER BY MAX(ReplacementValue) DESC Rap R190.00….
NOTE: For the last query, you could also have used ORDER BY 2 DESC
(Order by 2nd field listed in SELECT clause)

If you want to apply a criteria to the aggregate function, then you can’t use that aggregate
function in the WHERE clause. Instead you have to make use of the HAVING clause.
• The HAVING clause comes after the GROUP BY clause but before the ORDER
BY clause.

SELECT <field name(s)> , <Aggregate function with field>

FROM <table(s) that contain those fields>
WHERE <criteria for the query>
GROUP BY <field name(s)>
HAVING <criteria of aggregate function> ORDER
BY <field name> <ASC or DESC>

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 Examples Description
SELECT Genre ,
AVG( ReplacementValue ) AS Average_Cost Displays the average replacement value for
FROM CD each genre but only the ones where the
GROUP BY Genre average replacement value is R150 or more.
HAVING AVG( ReplacementValue ) >= 150
SELECT Artist ,
Displays the most expensive replacement value
MAX(ReplacementValue) AS MostExpensive
for each artist (ordered from most expensive to
FROM CD
least expensive) but only those that have a
GROUP BY Artist
most expensive replacement value less than
HAVING MAX(ReplacementValue) < 150
R150.
ORDER BY MAX(ReplacementValue) DESC

Using Date fields

Examples used in this section will reference this table (Owner) that contains a DateOfBirth field,
which is a date field.

When using a Date/Time data type, you refer to the values with a has symbol (#) on
either side of the data type.
• Remember to include the year, month and day when referring to a date. Can
NOT have DateOfBirth = 1990 <wrong>

Examples used below will refer to queries using the DateOfBirth field from the Owner
table.

Examples Description
SELECT * FROM Owner Display all the owners that were born on the 1
WHERE DateOfBirth = #1990/01/01# January 1990.

Display the owners that were born in 2000 or

WHERE DateOfBirth >= #2000/01/01# later

WHERE DateOfBirth >= #2001/01/01# AND Display the owners that were born in 2001 or
DateOfBirth <= #2002/12/31# 2002.

WHERE DateOfBirth BETWEEN Display the owners that were born in the first 6
#2001/01/01# AND #2001/06/30# months of 2001.

Displays the owners that were born in March of

WHERE DateOfBirth LIKE “2000/03/*” 2000.
NOTE: When using the LIKE operator, you do NOT need the hash symbols. We can use double quotes
however you must use the format of the computer you are using. In other words, this computer uses a / to
separate the year, month and day. Other computers may use a dash (-). When using LIKE you must use the
correct one for that computer.
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 • FORMAT function with date fields
Examples Description
SELECT OwnerName, Grade, Class,
FORMAT( DateOfBirth , “dd-mmm-yyyy” ) Displays the date of birth like 01-Jan-1990
AS Birthdate

• Calculations with date fields

o Subtracting TWO dates returns the number of DAYS between the TWO dates.
o A Date plus or minus an integer will return that date plus/minus the integer’s
value in days.
Example: Date field + 30 = That date but in 30 days’ time.
Date field – 60 = That date but 60 days ago.

• DATE() function returns the current date, set on the computer.

Examples Description
SELECT OwnerName, Grade, Class, DATE() Displays the Return Date as one week from
+ 7 AS ReturnDate TODAY.

SELECT #2021/01/01# - DATE() AS Displays the number of days from NOW till New
DaysTilNewYear Year 2021 (This is if today is a day in 2020).

• DATEVALUE function converts a string parameter into a date format.

Examples Description
SELECT OwnerName FROM Owner WHERE Converts string “2001/01/01” into a date
DateOfBirth >= DATEVALUE(“2001/01/01”) format that can now be used in a calculation.

• DAY, MONTH and YEAR function returns the numerical value of day, month or
year for a date respectively. o Parameter is a date field.
Examples Description
SELECT OwnerName, Grade, Class, Displays the day (number value) that the owner
DAY( DateOfBirth ) AS Day_Of_BirthDate was born.

Displays the age that the owner is turning that

SELECT OwnerName, YEAR( DATE() ) – YEAR(
year (Year value of today – year value of the
DateOfBirth ) AS Age
owners birth date: Example 2020 – 2001 = 19).
SELECT OwnerName, MONTH( DateOfBirth ) Displays the month (number value) that the
AS BirthMonth FROM Owner owner was born but only for the owners born in
WHERE MONTH( DateOfBirth ) = 6 the month of June (Month is 6)

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Queries using multiple tables
When multiple tables are linked by a common field (normally the primary key of one table
is used as a foreign key in another table) you can query information from both tables as
long as you take note of the following:
• All the tables used must be mentioned in the FROM clause separated by commas.
• You must specify which fields link to each other in the WHERE clause.
• If you have fields with the same name in both tables, you refer to a field by using
the table name <dot> field name. Example CD.OwnerID

For the following examples, we will use the CD and Owner table. The common field is the
OwnerID field in the Owner table (primary key) links to the OwnerID field in the CD table
(foreign key).

Example (Description below)

SELECT Artist, CD_name, OwnerName, ContactDetails
FROM Owner, CD
WHERE Owner.OwnerID = CD.OwnerID AND Artist = “Muse”
Display the CD details and Owner details of all the Muse CD’s. (Can see the CD name and artist
and who owns that CD as well as what their contact number is).

NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

• The Artist and CD_name fields came from the CD table, the OwnerName and
ContactDetails from the Owner table.
• Both tables are listed in the FROM clause.
• The common link is listed (in bold) in the WHERE clause together with any other
criteria.
• Because both tables have an OwnerID field, you refer to the fields by their table name
<dot> field name.

Example (Description below)

SELECT CD.Artist, CD.CD_name, Owner.OwnerName, Owner.ContactDetails FROM
Owner, CD
WHERE Owner.OwnerID = CD.OwnerID AND CD.Artist = “Muse”

You can refer to each field in the format: table name <dot> field name (see bold).

Example (Description below)

SELECT B.Artist, B.CD_name, A.OwnerName, A.ContactDetails
FROM Owner AS A, CD AS B
WHERE A.OwnerID = B.OwnerID AND B.Artist = “Muse”
You can use the AS operator to give the tables a short name to refer to, which then minimises
typing when referring to the fields with the table name <dot> field name format.

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Subqueries
When you want to use a value in a criteria for a query that is based on another query’s
result from an aggregate function, you can use that second query as a subquery in the
main query.

Consider the following query:

Examples Description
SELECT AVG( ReplacementValue ) Displays the average replacement value of ALL
FROM CD the CD’s. (Display one value)

Now we can use that query as a subquery in another query:

Example (Description below)
SELECT Artist, CD_name, Genre, ReplacementValue
FROM CD
WHERE ReplacementValue > ( SELECT AVG( ReplacementValue )
FROM CD )
Display the CD details of all the CD’s that have a replacement value that is above the average
replacement value.

Example (Description below)

SELECT OwnerName, Grade, Class
FROM Owner
WHERE Class = ( SELECT Class FROM Owner WHERE OwnerID = 7 )
Display the Owner details of all the Owner’s that are in the same class as Owner number 7.

SELECT queries in Delphi

When running an SQL query in Delphi, you make use of the ADOQuery component
instead of the ADOTable component.
• ADOQuery connects to an ADOConnection or uses a connection string exactly
like an ADOTable.
• Do not need to specify a table name as the ADOQuery can interact with all tables
based on its SQL statement.
• You can view the results of the query in a DBGrid as long as the relevant Data
Source component connects to the ADOQuery (similar to if it connects to the
ADOTable).

The SQL statement is written in the SQL string property of the ADOQuery:
• This can either be done in one line using the Text sub property Example:
AdoQuery1.SQL.Text := ‘SELECT * FROM CD’ ;

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 • Or it can be used like a memo control where you add multiple lines:
Example: AdoQuery1.Clear ;
AdoQuery1.SQL.Add( ‘SELECT *’ ) ;
AdoQuery1.SQL.Add( ‘FROM CD’ ) ;

To execute the SQL statement you can:

• Call the Open method of the ADOQuery Example: AdoQuery1.Open ;
• or you set the Active property to TRUE
Example: AdoQuery1.Active := TRUE ;
If using this method, then set the Active property to FALSE first, then edit the SQL
property, then set the Active property to TRUE.

Example
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘SELECT CD_Name, Artist, ReplacementValue FROM CD’ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘WHERE Genre = “Rock” ORDER BY Artist ASC ‘ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.Open ;
showmessage( IntToStr( qryCDDatabase.RecordCount ) + ‘ records’ ) ;

In the example above the ADOQuery component is called qryCDDatabase.

RecordCount property returns the number of records in the query.
or
Example
qryCDDatabase.Active := FALSE ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Text := ‘SELECT CD_Name, Artist, ReplacementValue FROM CD
WHERE Genre = “Rock” ORDER BY Artist ASC ‘ ;
qryCDDatabase.Active := TRUE ;
showmessage( IntToStr( qryCDDatabase.RecordCount ) + ‘ records’ ) ;

You can use data from Delphi components or variables in your SQL queries.
• The SQL property is a string field.
• All your text fields in the database must be contained in double quotes (“) and all
the date fields must be contained in hash symbols (#).

Example
iValue := 150 ; //integer variable

qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘SELECT CD_Name, Artist, ReplacementValue FROM CD’ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘WHERE Replacement Value >= ‘ + IntToStr( iValue ) ) ;
qryCDDatabase.Open ;
showmessage( IntToStr( qryCDDatabase.RecordCount ) + ‘ records’ ) ;
Added the iValue integer value to the query but converted it to a string because the SQL
property requires a string value.

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 Example
sName := edtInput.Text ; //string variable

qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘SELECT CD_Name, Artist, ReplacementValue FROM CD’ );
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘WHERE Artist = “‘ + sName + ‘”’) ;
qryCDDatabase.Open ;
showmessage( IntToStr( qryCDDatabase.RecordCount ) + ‘ records’ ) ;
Added the sName string value to the query so no converting is needed, however the string
variable needs to be contained in double quotes, then the string variable followed by the ‘.
‘WHERE Artist = “‘ + sName + ‘”’
If the use of double quotes is confusing then you can make use of the QuotedStr function:

‘WHERE Artist = ‘ + QuotedStr( sName ) ;

Special Rule: When using the LIKE operator in Delphi

• Use the % symbol in place of the * (star symbol)
• Use the _ symbol (underscore) in place of the ?
Example
SELECT * FROM CD WHERE Genre LIKE “*Rock*”

qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘SELECT * FROM CD WHERE Genre LIKE “%Rock%” ’ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.Open ;
showmessage( IntToStr( qryCDDatabase.RecordCount ) + ‘ records’ ) ;

Example
SELECT * FROM CD WHERE Artist LIKE “M???”

qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘SELECT * FROM CD WHERE Artist LIKE “M_ _ _” ’ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.Open ;
showmessage( IntToStr( qryCDDatabase.RecordCount ) + ‘ records’ ) ;

Example
sInput := edtInput.Text ; //string variable

qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘SELECT * FROM CD WHERE Genre LIKE “%’ + sInput + ‘%”’) ;
qryCDDatabase.Open ;
showmessage( IntToStr( qryCDDatabase.RecordCount ) + ‘ records’ ) ;

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 Note: The % symbol is inside the string quotes when using a variable.

‘WHERE Genre LIKE “%‘ + sInput + ‘%”’

Or you can make use of the QuotedStr function:

‘WHERE Genre LIKE ‘ + QuotedStr( ‘%’ + sInput + ‘%’ ) ;

INSERT statements
INSERT statement is used to add a new record in one of the tables in a database.

INSERT INTO <table name>

( <field names of the table separated by commas> )
VALUES
( <values to go into the corresponding fields separated by commas> )

NOTE: Values must follow the rules for their data type: text to be contained in double quotes and
dates to be contained in hash symbols. Numbers and Booleans can be used as is.

Example (Description below)

INSERT INTO Owner (OwnerID, OwnerName, Grade, Class, DiscJockey, DateOfBirth ) VALUES
( 55, “Mister Long”, 12, “B”, TRUE, #2000/11/21#)

Add the following details into the corresponding fields as a new record in the Owner table.

NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

• The values are spaced out to show you that each value must correspond with the same
field name in the correct order.
• Not all fields have been added to the table (ContactDetails and Email have been left
out). You don’t need to insert a value for every field except for required field.
• An error will occur if there is already an OwnerID of 55 in the Owner table because
OwnerID is the primary key and it MUST BE UNIQUE and NOT BLANK.
• Note how the number and Boolean fields (OwnerID, Grade, DiscJockey) are listed as is,
the text fields (OwnerName, Class) have double quotes and the date field (DateOfBirth)
has hash symbols.

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UPDATE statements
UPDATE statement is used to make changes to values in a record or records that
currently exist in a database table.

UPDATE <table name>

SET <fieldname> = <new value>
WHERE <criteria>

NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

• Only records that match the criteria will be updated.
• If no WHERE clause is used, then all the records in the table will be updated.
• If you want to update multiple fields, then use commas to separate the different
<field name> = <new value> parts.

Examples Description
UPDATE Owner
Change the e-mail address of the record with
SET Email = “[email protected]”
an Owner ID of 10 in the Owner table.
WHERE OwnerID = 10
UPDATE CD
SET Increase the replacement value by 15 of al the
ReplacementValue = ReplacementValue+15 Rock CD’s in the CD table.
WHERE Genre = “Rock”
UPDATE Owner
Change all the Disc Jockeys in Grade 11 to
SET Grade = 12, Class = “A”
Grade 12 class A in the Owner table.
WHERE Grade = 11 AND DiscJockey = TRUE

DELETE statements
DELETE statement is used to remove records from a table in a database.

DELETE FROM <table name>

WHERE <criteria>

NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

• Only records that match the criteria will be deleted.
• If no WHERE clause is used, then all the records in the table will be deleted.
• HINT: This can not be undone so make a backup copy of your database in case you
unintentionally delete records you didn’t want to.

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 Examples Description
DELETE FROM Owner WHERE Delete record where Owner ID is 10 in the
OwnerID = 10 Owner table.

DELETE FROM CD
WHERE Genre = “Rock” Delete all the Rock CD’s from the CD table.

DELETE FROM CD Delete all the CD’s that cost over R200 to
WHERE ReplacementValue > 200 AND replace and where the artist starts with the
Artist LIKE “B*” letter “B” in the CD table.
DELETE FROM CD Delete ALL the records in the CD table.

INSERT, UPDATE & DELETE in Delphi

INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE statements in Delphi also make use of the ADOQuery
component as described in the SELECT queries in Delphi section.
• The SQL statement will still be written in the SQL string property of the
ADOQuery component using the Text sub property OR Add method.
• To execute the SQL is different.
o You do not use the Active or Open methods to run an INSERT, UPDATE or
DELETE statement as no result set is returned. o Simply call the ExecSQL
method after you have added your SQL to the SQL property.

Example
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘DELETE FROM CD WHERE Genre = “Rock” ’ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.ExecSQL ;
//Once DELETE is complete, then run a SELECT query so user can observe the results of the
//delete
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘SELECT * FROM CD ’ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Open ;

You can use data from Delphi components or variables in your SQL queries.
• The SQL property is a string field.
• All your text fields in the database must be contained in double quotes (“) and all
the date fields must be contained in hash symbols (#).
• Remember the special rule: When using the LIKE operator in Delphi o Use the %
symbol in place of the * (star symbol) o Use the _ symbol (underscore) in place of
the ?

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Example
iValue := StrToInt( InputBox( ‘ID’, ‘Enter your Owner ID’ , ‘10’ ) ); //integer var for Owner ID
sNewEmail := InputBox( ‘E-Mail’, ‘Enter NEW e-mail:’ , ‘’ ) ; //string var for new email

qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘UPDATE Owner SET Email = “’ + sNewEmail +’”’ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘WHERE OwnerID = ‘ + IntToStr( iValue ) ) ; qryCDDatabase.ExecSQL
;

• Added the iValue integer value to the query but converted it to a string because the SQL
property requires a string value.
• Added the sNewEmail string value to the query so no converting is needed, however the
string variable needs to be contained in double quotes, hence the double quotes before the
first string is concluded, then the string variable followed by the ending double quotes as a
string.
Example
sOwnID := edtOwnerID.Text ; //ALL are string variables
sName := edtOwnerName.Text ;
sGrade := edtGrade.Text ;
sClass := edtClass.Text ;
sDJockey := edtDiscJockey.Text ;
sDOB := edtDOB.Text ;

qryCDDatabase.SQL.Clear ; qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( ‘INSERT INTO Owner ( OwnerID,

OwnerName, Grade, Class, ‘ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( DiscJockey, DateOfBirth ) VALUES ( ’ +sOwnID+ ‘ , “’ +sName+ ‘”,’ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.SQL.Add ( sGrade + ‘ , “‘ +sClass + ‘” , ’ +sDJockey+ ‘ , #’ +sDOB+ ‘# )’ ) ;
qryCDDatabase.ExecSQL ;

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NOTE:
• Inputs are stored in string values because the SQL property is a string. If you had variables of
other types, they would need to be converted to string (e.g. IntToStr, BoolToStr, etc)
• String commas are added between each field in the VALUES brackets.
• Each variable for number fields (sOwnID & sGrade) are added as is.
• Variable for Boolean field (sDJockey) is added
as is. string double quotes
• Each variable for string fields (sName & sClass)
are added with . string hash symbols .
• Variable for date field (sDOB) is added with

sGrade + ‘ , “‘ +sClass + ‘” , ’ +sDJockey+ ‘ , #’ +sDOB+ ‘# )’

If the use of double quotes is confusing then you can make use of the QuotedStr function:

sGrade+ ‘,‘ +QuotedStr(sClass) + ‘,’ +sDJockey+ ‘, # +sDOB+‘# )’

SUGGESTION: If you get an error saying your SQL statement is incorrect, then use the following
line of code before the ExecSQL / Open / Active := TRUE statement:
showmessage( qryCDDatabase.SQL.Text ) ;
It will display your SQL statement and you can analyse it to see if it is correct or if you used
double quotes, commas, brackets, spaces etc correctly.

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