Does anybody know how I can do the following without using microsoft access?

1. Query design (using textual description)

2. design (including grouping and calculating controls. All to be done using a word processor.)

:(

Well - you could always use a combination of Word, Excel and Query.
All you need to to is set up your data store (I'm using this term, rather than database, since you seem to not want to use an actual database program)

You could keep your data in either Excel or Word, run queries on it in Query (Through Excel most likely - Tools>Get External Data>New Database Query)

Not too sure what you mean by "calculating controls" though - and to be honest, I'm not too sure I know what you're trying to do at all!
What is it you're actually wanting to do?

Steven

I am a loud man with a very large hat. This means I am in charge