I received one suggestion to use the select by attributes dialog and save
the query. However, this only performs attribute queries. I'm looking for a
tool that is similar to this, but allows for spatial queries to be included
in the SQL statement. Something like the example below:

'Select * from Counties, Population where Counties.Name = Population.Name
and where Population.Size > 250000 and where Counties.Shape intersects
Coastline.Shape'

Anyway, nobody seemed to have any answers on this occasion. If anybody finds
a way of doing this kind of complex SQL in ArcMap I'd be very interested.

Regards

John


My Original Question:

I am working with someone who requires the same kind of SQL query functions
that MapInfo has for making selections. For example the ability to write SQL
statements combining attribute and spatial queries and making temporary
joins (eg where table1.unique-id = table2.unique-id).

I need to convince them that ArcGIS can perform as well if not better in
this department. I know that I can create the same kind of results by
combining a select by attributes with a select by location using the
previously selected features, and I know that I can set up joins to other
tables prior to querying. However, should I wish to save and re-run a
complex query I can't do this in ArcMap.....or can I?

Basically, we want a mechanism where we can create, save and re-load complex
SQL queries that integrate spatial and attribute data. Am I missing
something? Does this exist somewhere in ArcGIS? Has anyone written
macros/vba to reproduce the kind of query builder you have in MapInfo?

I'd appreciate any thoughts/ideas on this as these guys might take some
convincing that ArcGIS is the way forward. I'll sum of course.