CD-ROM products produced using the Pathways software often contain enormous amounts of data. The software provides a robust and easy to use query facility that can be used by buyers to help them focus on the data that is most important to them. Using SQL commands, the query facility can very quickly provide buyers the information they require. Even queries against very large databases can be accomplished in a few seconds or minutes.

To help buyers develop the SQL commands needed for their queries, the Pathways software provides an easy to use "point and click" interface. This interface allows the buyer to very quickly define the database tables that are to be queried, the data elements that are to be used for the query, and the data values that are to be either included or excluded by the query.

An example of a simple query that could be performed is one that selects all companies that have a mailing address in the state of California. The buyer can accomplish this very easily by using a set of screens provided by the software.

Using the screens described above, a buyer may develop extremely complex criteria for use in data selection. An example of a more complex selection would be one that selects all marketing managers for manufacturing companies in either California or Oregon who manufacture blue widgets that are distributed in the US and Europe. To further aid the buyer and eliminate the need for re-entering the same complex selection criteria in the future; the software provides a "save" function. A load function is provided to retrieve previously saved selection criteria.

After entering selection criteria, a buyer may view the generated SQL commands. This feature is especially helpful in those instances where the buyer does not receive the expected results when the query is run. A print feature is also available to print the SQL commands for forwarding to the publisher's technical staff for further assistance.

Buyers may also select data based upon information that they have added to the original databases provided by the publisher. Selections may be processed for all records that buyer has previously "marked" as being important to them. Selection is also available for any company for which the buyer has added a "note".

In addition to defining query selection criteria, buyers may also define the sort order to be used for presentation of the selected data. The sort order is defined by selecting, from a list provided, one or more data elements to be used for sortation. Buyers may also indicate whether the sortation will place records in ascending or descending order.