Whether you are writing a simple database in Access/Visual Basic or a huge client-server web application, SQL is a powerful tool that is a must-have skill for any developer. For a beginner it is yet another skill you need to learn, but there is a shortcut that will allow you to write SQL without knowing SQL, and as a result of using these shortcuts you will actually learn to write native SQL. “So what are these shortcuts?”, I hear you cry, well, read on and find out.

All good database and report writing applications allow you to create database queries visually by deciding which tables to include, the relationship between tables, the sort order and the criteria of which records to include or not to include. Certain products (including Crystal Reports (SQL Query Designer), Microsoft Access and the very basic 'Visdata' demo that comes with Visual Basic) allow you to view this query as a native SQL statement. Be warned: Access puts lots of extra rubbish in the statement that you don't need, such as square [] and curved () brackets; it also prefixes fields with table names even if you are only using one.

So the answer to 'How do I write advanced SQL queries without knowing any SQL?' is to design your query in, say, MS-Access, click the View -> SQL View menu option, cut and paste into your own application, and hey-presto! You are an instant SQL expert!