How do I use an SQL filter on incoming data BEFORE it gets into Access

[Fixer]

When I pull in an ODBC data source (using the button in access), it doesn't let me filter it before it brings it in. It is bringing in EVERYTHING which is not what I wanted (these dbases are HUGE).

Is there any way to run an actual SQL QUERY and the results end up in a table?

[June7]

What is the backend?

An SQL INSERT action will write records to table but I don't see how that will help you.

[Fixer]

Backend? I am not familiar with the terminology. Self-taught.

I clicked on the External Data tab and selected the ODBC Database button.

I figured that I figure out how to do it by hand before I figure out how to do it in Visual Basic.

[June7]

If you are connecting to data via ODBC then this is a split design. Backend has data tables and frontend has queries, forms, reports, code. The backend can be Access, SQL, Oracle, etc.

[Fixer]

Then the 'backed' (where the data is stored) is an Oracle server. I (presently) import it into Excel using SQL queries (using WHERE and HAVING to only pull what I want).

Is Access built so it cannot use SQL queries on what it imports? I don't want to download the entire database and then apply filters. I can use VBA if I have to to run it otherwise, but I am unfamiliar with the syntax for VBA in Access.

[June7]

My only experience with Oracle and SQL as backend database is to link tables from Access. But I understand that 'views' (filtered datasets) can be built in SQL (and maybe Oracle) backend and Access can link to those same as linking to tables.