F. Benzi, D. Maio, S. Rizzi. Visionary: a viewpoint-based visual language
for querying relational databases. Journal of Visual Languages and
Computing, vol. 10, n. 2, pp. 117-145, 1999.
Abstract
The adoption of a visual interface can simplify the query formulation
process in DBMSs by enabling naive users to interact with a friendly
environment. In this work we propose a visual query language based on a
diagrammatic paradigm, used for both data and query representation. The
external data model is called vision and is made up of the visual
primitives of concept and association. The external query model is based on
the definition of a viewpoint, which is a perspective for accessing data
defined dynamically by selecting a concept of primary interest. Internally,
the data model is relational and the query language is SQL. An intermediate
graph-based model ensures consistent mapping between the visual and the
relational worlds. Our language has been implemented within a tool which
can be mounted on top of any relational DBMS supporting ODBC. The system
has been tested with naive users; the results of the experiment are
reported and compared with those obtained with other visual languages.
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