1.5 - Windows - Simple Query Window
The Simple Query Window (SQW) allows you to find nouns or statements based on any logical combination of the following items:
1) subject noun type
2) subject noun
3) verb
4) object noun type
5) object noun
6) prepositional phrase
The Simple Query Window
Wow, That's a Lot of Stuff
Yes, it is. We realize that some MindModel features, such as the Simple Query Window (SQW), don't look quite so simple when you first see them.
We work very hard to make MindModel as easy-to-use as possible. However, there are times when we have to present you with a certain amount of complexity, to make sure you have all the tools you need to get your job done.
For example, not counting prepositional phrases, there are five parts of a MindModel statement.
To allow you to search statements, we have to provide one scrolling list for each of the five parts of the statement. That's why you see five scrolling lists in the window pictured above.
The same basic idea holds for all the other items (buttons, etc.) in the SQW. They are necessary to give you the power you need to query (i.e. search) your models.
If it's complex, why call it the "Simple Query Window"?
Because there are two types of queries in MindModel: simple queries and combined queries.
You use the Simple Query Window to create simple queries. Then you use the Combined Query Window (CQW) to combine simple queries into more complex queries.
For example, you could use the SQW to create a query that found people in California. Then you could use the SQW to create a query that found doctors. Then you could use the Combined Query Window (CQW) to combine those two queries, creating a combined query that found doctors in California.
What are the rules for using the Simple Query Window (SQW)?
1) To use the SQW, you must have a model open.
You can use the "Open Model" command in the File Menu to open a model.
Keep the model open while using the SQW.
2) If you have more than one model open, the SQW works with the model that's in front of the other models.
3) The SQW puts its results (the nouns and statements it finds) in the Model Window.
How do I open the Simple Query Window (SQW)?
You can click "Simple Query" in the Toolbar to open the SQW, or you can choose "Open Simple Query Window" from the Queries Menu.
Is there an easy way to understand the Simple Query Window (SQW)?
Yes, there is.
Approach the SQW, and other complex MindModel features with the following two ideas in mind:
1) What do I want to accomplish?
2) What do I need to specify to MindModel, so it can get the job done?
Where do I start?
Start with the area on the middle of the left-hand side of the SQW.
This area is labelled "What do you want to find?".
There are two basic choices: nouns or statements.
If you choose "nouns", the SQW fills the Nouns List of the Model Window with nouns that match the criteria you entered.
If you choose "statements", the SQW fills the Statements List of the Model Window with statements that match the criteria you entered.
So the first decision you have to make is: are you trying to find nouns, or are you trying to find statements?
Finding Nouns
You'll notice that, if you choose "nouns", there are additional options: subjects, objects, objects of preps.
Let's take a look at what these additional options mean.
What does it mean to find subject nouns?
Let's say you want to find the organization that distributes Microsoft Word.
To do so, you'd follow these steps:
1) Select "organization" in the "Subject Type" column.
2) Select "distributes" in the "Verb" column.
3) Select "software package" in the "Object Type" column.
4) Select "Microsoft Word" in the "Object" column.
These four steps tell MindModel which statements you want to find.
You want to find statements that look like:
organization: ? <distributes> software package: Microsoft Word
But, remember your goal was to find nouns, not statements.
So you select the "subjects" option.
When you click the "Find Nouns Now" button (in the middle of the SQW), MindModel puts the "Microsoft" organization noun in the Nouns List of the Model Window.
So you selected items in the scrolling lists to tell MindModel which statements to find, then you selected "nouns" and "subjects" to tell MindModel that you want the subjects of those statements.
What does it mean to find object nouns?
In a similar example, let's say you want to find the software packages that Microsoft distributes.
To do so, you'd follow these steps:
1) Select "organization" in the "Subject Type" column.
2) Select "Microsoft" in the "Subject" column.
3) Select "distributes" in the "Verb" column.
4) Select "software package" in the "Object Type" column.
These four steps tell MindModel which statements you want to find.
You want to find statements that look like:
organization: Microsoft <distributes> software package: ?
But, remember your goal was to find nouns, not statements.
So you select the "objects" option.
When you click the "Find Nouns Now" button (in the middle of the SQW), MindModel puts the following software package nouns in the Nouns List of the Model Window:
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft FrontPage
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Word
So you selected items in the scrolling lists to tell MindModel which statements to find, then you selected "nouns" and "objects" to tell MindModel that you want the objects of those statements.
How about "objects of preps"?
This option works in a way that's similar to the first two options, but this one finds the object of preposition nouns of the statements you specify in the scrolling lists.
Finding Statements
Finding statements works in a way that's similar to finding nouns, but it's simpler.
To find statements, choose "statements" in the "What do you want to find?" area.
Then, select items in the scrolling lists to specify which statements you want to find.
Then click "Find Statements Now" to tell MindModel to fill the Statements List of the Model Window with the statements you specified.
Any power-user tips?
Yes. You can work left-to-right in the SQW, but you don't have to.
You can leave "(all subject types)" and "(all subject nouns)" selected in the first two lists, then select a verb in the "Verb" list. MindModel will fill the Statements List with all statements that contain the selected verb.
The same is true for other columns in the SQW. You can select an object noun type to find all statements with that object noun type.
Any other power-user tips?
Yes. You can resize the SQW, to make it taller or shorter. Making it taller allows you to see more items at once, which can reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling through the lists.
Is there anything else the Simple Query Window can do?
Yes. This section presents an overview of some of the most important features of the SQW.
The following sections provide detailed information on all the additional features of the SQW.
Feature Guide: Windows: Simple Query Window: Scrolling Lists
Feature Guide: Windows: Simple Query Window: Additional Options
Feature Guide: Windows: Simple Query Window: When to Find
Feature Guide: Windows: Simple Query Window: Simple Query Commands