Query by Example in Enterprise Manager

Why hasn't Microsoft adopted the same level of excellent QBE in Enterprise Manager that is included with MS Access for building queries? I am just not a die hard fan of using Query Analyzer and templates for building complex queries. I can understand using QA for performance tuning, etc. but for queries like UPDATE queries using RIGHT OUTER JOINS that have many attribute references, I miss my QBE in Access.

When I did my Masters, I wrote a research paper on Query By Example developed in the 70's by Dr. Mosh Zloof of IBM and there are some really good points about it.

1.) Visually seeing the relationships and joins.

2.) Elimination of typo errors.

3.) Eliminates reference ambiguity.

I don't mind keying in a complex query, but a nice visual tool with the relationships/joined mapped out and the elimination of reference ambituity would make me feel a little better before I hit the Execute Query button. Sometimes the Parse Query button does not exactly give me that warm fuzzy feeling but it helps.

Does anyone know if MS ever plans to adopt the level of QBE provided in MS Access or are there any third party tools available in comparison?

I'm not asking for help with keying in queries through Query Analyzer or any arguments about why that is so much greater. I'm just looking for QBE improvements in SQL server's Enterprise Manager.I understand what you are saying about visualizing the query and seeing the relationship. You are right in saying that MS Access does a good job of that, however, as a DBMS, Access just doesn't cut it. SQL Server is great.

If you are looking to visualize in SQL Server, there is a diagram tool under the database that you are working with so you can build relationships... you can also perform a visual query by right clicking on a table and selecting query from the popup menu. From there you can add tables and make relationships all by pointing and clicking... good thing to do if you aren't too sure about sql... it looks just like access's version and runs almost the same way.

But hey, look at it this way... in Access you are not in control... you simply control where you point and click and Access does the rest. In Query Analyzer, you are more than just a user ... you have flexibility and at the same time you are becoming more and more competant and confident in writing SQL and T-SQL... Remember, there is hardly anything that can't be fixed. So don't be afraid to click that button!!!!! Keep going at it and you'll be a SQL pro in no time!!!!!!|||Believe me, I've been working with SQL Server for 2 1/2 years but I still miss the QBE capability of Grid Analyzer in MS Access. For example, in SQL's Query Analyzer you can't add a joined table for an UPDATE query but you can for a SELECT. What's up with that? Seems pretty basic to me.|||Personally, I think it's funny that everyone balks at using QBE in EM for query building. I found that in Access, my percentage of reference ambiguity using Grid Manager was zero. However, when I use QA and templates, it's probably 5 to 25% and then I have to make corrections. To me, it's like comparing BASIC to VISUAL BASIC. Visual tools are awesome! Why people think it's such an insult to use them is beyond me. Just my two cents.