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Pick the tables and their foreign keys become the join conditions. What comes out is plain SQL in a new query tab, to edit like any other query.
Build Join Query sheet with album, artist and track picked, two join rows, chosen columns and the SQL previewBuild Join Query sheet with album, artist and track picked, two join rows, chosen columns and the SQL preview

Three tables picked from the ER diagram, joined along their foreign keys

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Open the builder

  • Choose Database > Build Join Query…. Tables selected in the sidebar start out picked.
  • In an ER diagram, click a table, then Command-click or Shift-click the others. Click the Build Join Query toolbar button, or right-click one of the selected tables and choose Build Join Query….
The builder works in the schema of the diagram or of the selected tables.

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Pick tables

Select a table in the list on the left to add it. The first table picked is the FROM table, and each one after it joins the tables before it on the shortest chain of foreign keys. Deselect a table to take it out. A table that was joined on it switches to a key that reaches a remaining table, or to a cross join when none does.

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Shape the query

  • Joins shows each table with its join type, Inner Join or Left Join, and its condition. On lists every foreign key to an earlier table: an orders table with billing_address_id and shipping_address_id offers both keys to addresses.
  • Select columns under a picked table to list them instead of SELECT *.
  • Add Filter adds a WHERE condition from a column, an operator and a value. Conditions combine with AND, and one still missing its value is left out.
SQL Preview follows every change, with identifiers quoted for the engine and, on an engine with schemas, each table named with its schema. Click Open in Query Tab to open the query in a new tab on the same database.

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Database support

The command needs an engine that runs SQL and whose driver reports foreign keys, and is dimmed on the others. The engines that report foreign keys are listed under ER Diagram.