Oracle for Windows NT is required to run queries from the Banner database. Call the help desk at extension 4440 if you do not have this.

Start by down-loading the shared queries database from the Banner Info page in Campus Pipeline. When you click the link you will be asked to save or open the file. Save it to your desktop first.

You will want to rename the database so that you won’t loose your changes if you down-load a new copy of the shared queries database. After you rename the database, double-click to open it.

The menu contains buttons for commonly used queries. This list will be added to from time to time.

To create a report of your own, simply close the menu by clicking the “X” at the top right of the form.

If the list of queries is not already displayed, click the Queries object on the left side. To begin creating a query of your own double-click the “Create query in Design view” button.

Hopefully, the names of the tables listed will give you an idea of what kind of data can be found in them. Choose a table and add it and then close the list of tables. If the data you need is not included in any of these tables you will need to add to your table list. Click here to find out how.

Here is one of the most commonly used tables. Most of the field names are pretty understandable. I always start by dragging the dividing line down to allow space to stretch out the field list.

Dividing Line

Double-click fields that you want included in your query and fields that you will need to specify which records to include. In the Criteria line I have 3 conditions for records to be select: Fall 04 records, currently registered, IT as 1st major.

Before you run the query you need to change 2 property settings. Double-click the gray area next to the field list to display the property settings. Change the Recordset type to Snapshot and increase the ODBC timeout. In this case it is set to 300 (seconds).

Close the properties box and click the run button.

Enter your username and password.

Once the query is finished you can see that there are 61 records. The query still does not include students with IT as a 2nd major. To modify the query click the design button.

In order to also select students with IT as a 2nd major, enter the criterion (current semester, enrolled, IT as 2nd major) on the OR line of the query design grid. The example below also will not to show the term code and registered indicator because the Show box for those columns has been unchecked.

After re-running the query, note that there are 4 more students on the list. At this point you can print the list or export it to Excel where you can sort it, or use it in a Word merge.

First save the query so that you can use it again in the future.

Give the query a name that you will recognize next semester when you want to run it again.

Finally, export the data to Excel by using the Office Links option from the Tools menu.