better yet, give me the ability to write a full fledged SQL query. I understand that not everyone will want it or use it but to have the ability greatly improves this product in my opinion. It would allow RE to be much more feasible for your larger clients and those who have passed over RE for another product because it couldn't handle their volume.

And add this to Export, too!

Joshua - you can write a full fledged sql query. If you have the right maintainence program you can use RODBA for free to do this or if you are on SQL you can go directly to the back end to query. Larger clients who passed over RE for another product nor realizing they can query SQL have made big mistakes.

I don't remember the language exactly but I discussed this very topic with blackbaud customer support and we decided that the SQL writing abilities i would have would not be useful in the long run. I think it was because i wouldn't be able to use that query as i would any other query but I can't be certain.

Ideally, it would be very useful to have a SQL tab on a query so that i can view and edit the actual SQL code of a query as i created it using the already available tools. I realize the program may not actually work that way right now but it can. I'm thinking about how Access allows you to build a query through one of three ways or a combination of them (one of them being a edit SQL code tab).

This way if someone understands SQL they can at least see the code as it's being written by the program so there are no surprises in what joins or other operations RE automatically selects. OR if the exact function you want isn't readily available or you can't remember where it is, you can select the closest one that you can find and change an OR to an AND and be on your way.

Like i said in the previous comment, it's not for everyone but for those people who are SQL experts or even dabble in it, it can be a huge time saver.

Also, if possible, please allow consecutive parentheses to cut down on the number of criteria that need to be repeated.

That's one thing I miss about RE 6, the ability to use multiple parentheses on a single criterion.

Other than the SQL view, I fail to see the point of this suggestion. If you have several OR for the same field, use the operator "ONE OF". It is exactly for this. To turn this into an AND, just click the box "Must match all criteria".

As Query currently works, this would be very welcome. It's annoying to have to reselect the exact same parameters the long way multiple times within building a single query with multiple parenthetical statements.

Even though not many people would use it, a lot of folks already know SQL language and it wouldn't be that difficult to add the option to see the SQL view of a query (a la MS Access) and edit right there. It would allow unlimited flexibility. It would just need a logic checker before the SQL was saved so that no program breaking commands were added. Even if just basic SQL editing was allowed, it would open up query flexibility considerably.

There was a 3rd-party tool that allowed you to do this, but I recall it being very buggy and not terribly user-friendly. Yes, this would be a great feature. Next up: Summary Queries for Volunteer Hours