One of EQQ's least obvious features is also its most important: the query lifecycle. Every query you build progresses through states, and only the Active state is visible to end users. Here is why that matters.

The six states

  1. In Process - draft; visible only to the author.
  2. Saved - parked; not yet generated for execution.
  3. Generated - SQL body compiled and validated against the database.
  4. Active - visible to end users; can be run.
  5. Inactive - temporarily hidden; runnable only by admins.
  6. Void - permanently retired; audit trail preserved.

Why states beat versioning

Many tools model “published” as a version pointer. EQQ models it as a state machine because most of what breaks production data is the transition, not the version. By making the transition explicit, EQQ gives you a natural place to hang validation, approval, and rollback.

Each row in Manage Queries shows its lifecycle state.
Each row in Manage Queries shows its lifecycle state.

Typical flow

Analyst drafts in In Process → Saved to park overnight → Generated to validate against the schema → Active when a reviewer signs off → Inactive when the question is no longer needed → Void at end-of-year cleanup.

Compliance and audit

Every state change is logged: who, when, from what state, to what state. That satisfies most internal compliance frameworks (SOX change control, ISO 27001 change management, HIPAA access controls) without bolting on a separate workflow tool.

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Key Terms

  • SOX - Sarbanes-Oxley Act - US federal law requiring auditable internal controls over financial reporting.
  • HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act - US law mandating the protection of patient health information.
  • ISO - International Organization for Standardization - the body that publishes standards such as ISO 27001 for information security management.