# Infor VISUAL query tool and shop resource maintenance

> Source: https://netray.co/erp-help/infor-visual-query-tool-shop-resource-maintenance
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: ERP Help

## Short answer

To query VISUAL data, use a read-only SQL login in SQL Server Management Studio or a reporting tool against the VISUAL database, or the in-application query and reporting options your build provides. Shop resources, the machines and work centers that operations are scheduled on, are maintained in the Shop Resource area and drive scheduling, load and costing.

## Kind

how-to

## System

infor-visual

## Erp

Infor VISUAL (VISUAL Manufacturing)

## Module

Querying / Shop Resources

## Query

infor visual query tool

## Alternate Queries

- infor visual shop resource maintenance
- infor visual sql query
- visual manufacturing shop resource setup

## Applies To

Infor VISUAL on SQL Server. Menu labels differ by version, so confirm them in your client.

## Steps

### Query VISUAL data and maintain shop resources

**Items:**

- Ask your DBA for a read-only SQL login, ideally against a restored copy or replica.
- Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the VISUAL database.
- Start with the small tables: SHOP_RESOURCE, PART, WORK_ORDER, OPERATION.
- Join operation rows to shop resources on the resource ID to see load by machine.
- Always filter by status and date to avoid scanning large history tables.
- To change a resource, open Shop Resource Maintenance in VISUAL, not the table.
- After changes, re-run scheduling or confirm how the change affects open operations.
- Document every saved query so it can be reused and checked.

## Sections

### Querying with SQL

**Body:**

The VISUAL database is standard SQL Server, so any SQL tool works. The key tables for shop floor questions are WORK_ORDER for the header, OPERATION for each routing step, REQUIREMENT for materials, LABOR_TICKET for reported time, and SHOP_RESOURCE for machines and work centers. Column names should be confirmed by browsing the schema in your version.

Use NOLOCK carefully. It avoids blocking the shop floor but can return inconsistent reads. For reporting copies it is not needed at all.

**Code:**

SELECT o.WORKORDER_BASE_ID, o.SEQUENCE_NO, o.RESOURCE_ID, r.DESCRIPTION,
       o.SETUP_HRS, o.RUN_HRS, o.STATUS
FROM OPERATION o
JOIN SHOP_RESOURCE r ON r.ID = o.RESOURCE_ID
WHERE o.STATUS = 'R'
ORDER BY o.RESOURCE_ID, o.WORKORDER_BASE_ID;

### What a shop resource defines

**Body:**

A shop resource represents a machine, work center, or labor pool. It carries a description, a calendar or shift pattern that sets available hours, capacity, and rates used for costing such as labor and burden. Operations on a routing point to a resource, so changing the resource's rates or calendar changes scheduling and costing for open and future work orders.

Confirm the exact fields in the Shop Resource Maintenance window in your version. Treat changes to rates and calendars as controlled changes, because they affect standard cost and promise dates.

### Safe habits for production data

**Body:**

Never run UPDATE or DELETE against VISUAL tables to fix a data issue. Use the application, or the API Toolkit for bulk changes, so validations run. Keep a test database restored from backup for experiments, and refresh it on a schedule.

Long-running queries on a busy server hurt users. Query a replica, add date filters, and review the execution plan if a query takes more than a few seconds.

## Pitfalls

- Using a shared admin login for ad hoc queries.
- Running unfiltered queries against transaction history on the live server.
- Editing SHOP_RESOURCE rows directly.
- Changing resource rates without understanding the cost roll-up impact.
- Assuming column names from a different VISUAL version.

## Ai Angle

A natural-language layer over VISUAL can generate and show the read-only SQL for questions such as which machines are overloaded next week. Netray builds this on-prem so the schema, queries and results never leave your network, and the AI user is a read-only login.

## Faq

### Does VISUAL have a built-in query tool?

**Answer:** Most teams query with SQL Server tools or a reporting product. The application also offers reporting and lookup options that vary by version, so check yours.

### What table holds machines and work centers?

**Answer:** Shop resources are held in the SHOP_RESOURCE table, maintained through Shop Resource Maintenance in the application.

### Can I update resources with SQL?

**Answer:** It is not advisable. Use the application or the API Toolkit so validations and dependent data stay consistent.

## Search terms

infor visual query tool, infor visual shop resource maintenance, visual manufacturing sql, visual shop resource table, visual work order sql, infor visual database, infor visual reporting, visual operation table

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