Managing Data with Microsoft® Excel

Using Database Queries

In one way at least, after you've established an outer join using Microsoft Query, you have pushed that application to its limit. You're allowed no more than two tables in Microsoft Query's table pane if you've used an outer join (see Figure 5.12).

Figure 5.12. To establish an outer join with more than two tables, you need a more sophisticated query manager.

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Therefore, if you have even a slightly more complicated situation, you need to involve a database management system directly. These applications, such as Access and SQL Server and Oracle, do not place such restrictive limits on designing queries. ...