Epicor BAQ Training: From Basic Queries to Linked Views

Business Activity Queries (BAQs) are one of the most powerful tools available within the Epicor ERP system. Whether you are trying to build a simple list of customers or need a complex, multi-table dataset for a custom dashboard, BAQs are your starting point.

At Epicforce Tech, we understand that mastering BAQs is not just a technical task. It is a business necessity. In this blog, we guide you step by step through the essentials of Epicor BAQ training, starting with the basics and leading up to advanced linked views that help unlock the full potential of your data.

What is a BAQ in Epicor ERP?

A Business Activity Query (BAQ) is a user-friendly query tool within Epicor that lets you extract, filter, and display data from the database. Unlike raw SQL, BAQs provide a structured interface that is designed for business users and analysts.

BAQs serve as the foundation for many other Epicor functions, including:

• Dashboards

• Reports

• Business Process Management (BPM)

• Updatable views and forms

• Email alerts and notifications

Section 1: Understanding the Basics of Epicor BAQs

Before diving into advanced views, it is essential to have a solid understanding of how to build basic BAQs.

1.1 Key Components of a BAQ

A basic BAQ typically consists of:

• Tables: The source of your data, such as Customer or OrderDtl

• Fields: The data points you want to display

• Joins: The relationships between different tables

• Criteria: Filters to narrow down your results

• Sort Orders: Determines how data is ordered in the output

1.2 Building Your First BAQ

To get started:

1. Open the BAQ designer in Epicor

2. Select your primary table, such as InvcHead for invoices

3. Add the fields you want to see

4. Optionally, join another related table, such as InvcDtl

5. Run the query to preview the results

A well-structured BAQ can save time and reduce the need for external reports.

Section 2: Common Use Cases for Basic BAQs

Understanding real-world applications can help contextualize training.

Examples include:

• Customer lists filtered by region, status, or credit terms

• Sales orders over a certain value

• Inventory availability and safety stock levels

• Exporting active vendor data by category

These types of BAQs provide quick access to actionable data that would otherwise require IT support.

Section 3: Intermediate Techniques – Calculated Fields and Subqueries

Once you are comfortable with the basics, it is time to explore more powerful features.

3.1 Calculated Fields

You can create dynamic fields using expressions, such as:

• Order Total = Quantity * Unit Price

• Margin Percent = (Price - Cost) / Price

This allows for better reporting directly within the BAQ.

3.2 Subqueries

Subqueries let you nest one query inside another. For example:

• Get the latest invoice date for each customer

• Find products that have not been sold in the past six months

Subqueries help reduce complexity by breaking down logic into reusable components.

Section 4: Linked Views – Unlocking Complex Relationships

Linked Views are one of the most powerful features of Epicor BAQs. They allow you to connect multiple subqueries and datasets to build comprehensive, multi-source outputs.

4.1 What Are Linked Views?

Linked Views are used when:

• You need to join data that spans multiple business functions, such as customer to order to shipment to invoice

• A standard join would not be efficient or readable

• You are preparing data for dashboards or updatable queries

4.2 How to Build a Linked View

1. Create individual subqueries, each with its own logic

2. Add a top-level query

3. Link the subqueries using SubQuery Options and set the Link Type

4. Define the join criteria carefully

5. Validate and test to ensure performance

4.3 Practical Use Case

Suppose you want a dashboard to show:

• Order headers

• Related shipments

• Related invoices

• Outstanding balances

Instead of placing everything into one complex query, break it into subqueries and use linked views to tie them together.

Section 5: Best Practices for BAQ Development

To get the most out of your Epicor training, follow these best practices:

• Name queries clearly, such as Cust_OpenOrders

• Use description fields to document each BAQ's purpose

• Avoid SELECT * queries and pull only the fields you need

• Test performance using large datasets

• Use shared queries for dashboards or reports

These practices help ensure BAQs are maintainable, reusable, and efficient.

Section 6: How Epicforce Tech Helps You Train and Scale

Training your internal team to build and manage BAQs is not just a technical investment. It is a strategic move toward data empowerment.

Epicforce Tech helps clients:

• Develop customized BAQ training programs by user role

• Audit and clean up legacy BAQs for performance and reliability

• Build advanced dashboards powered by linked views

• Create internal documentation for knowledge sharing

Our Epicor-certified experts work alongside your team to ensure BAQ capabilities are embedded in your operations.

Final Thoughts

Mastering BAQs is not just about writing queries. It is about improving data visibility, automating workflows, and enabling better decision-making. Whether you are starting with the basics or aiming to implement linked views for complex dashboards, a structured Epicor BAQ training plan is essential.

Epicforce Tech is committed to helping organizations train smarter and work faster using practices that are proven, practical, and built to scale.