using select query to add records

[ntambomvu]

Hello Chaps- would someone please explain something to me
I am new at this and am going through queries.
i am learning about SELECT queries and INSERT queries.
My understanding is that a select query will allow one to find (select) a particular record
and an insert query will allow one to add a new record.
But my tutorial seems to use the select query to add records??
If this is correct then what is the point of having an insert query.?


regards fred

[pbaldy]

A select query will not add records to the underlying table. You might be able to add a record manually through a select query, but that would be no different than adding a record manually to the table. As developers most of us never let users into tables or queries, only forms and reports.

For clarity, either type of query can return/add multiple records.

[andy49]

INSERT INTO Customers (CustomerName, Country)
SELECT SupplierName, Country FROM Suppliers;

Means find supplier Name and country from the table suppliers

then Insert them into the table Customers in the fields CustomerName and Country)

Hope this helps

[pbaldy]

INSERT INTO Customers (CustomerName, Country)
SELECT SupplierName, Country FROM Suppliers;

And in case this is the source of your confusion, that's not a select query adding records, that's an insert query that has a select clause in it. There are two syntax options with append (insert) queries:

inserts a single record
INSERT INTO...
VALUES(...)

inserts any number of records:
INSERT INTO...
SELECT...
FROM...
WHERE... (optional)

The second, while it contains a SELECT clause, is still an append query, not a select query.

[ntambomvu]

thanks chaps= it has cleared up the mud a bit
so if I open a table using a select query and while the form is open I make changes to a record
on the form -those changes will be made to the underlying table??
In that case how does one make the query "read only" or rather disallow the operator from
making changes?
thanks again

[orange]

SQL info and examples at https://www.w3schools.com/sql/sql_syntax.asp

[pbaldy]

Most of us developers never let users directly into tables or queries. You control what they can do in forms/reports. A form is easy to make read only. You have much less control over formatting, security, etc with tables/queries.

[Micron]

A little less technical perhaps, and maybe a good primer for the other link - several types covered

https://support.office.com/en-us/art...3-5760249fb65c

Or research it as there's a lot to know about queries in general.

[ntambomvu]

thanks for the tips- I will try them now that I am online again
best regards