Design and user testing of a multi-paradigm query interface to an object-oriented database

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on experience obtained during the design, implementation and use of a multi-paradigm query interface to an object-oriented database. The specific system which has been developed allows equivalent data retrieval tasks to be expressed using textual, form-based and graph-based notations, and supports automatic translation of queries between these three paradigms. The motivation behind the development of such an interface is presented, as is the software architecture which supports the multi-paradigm functionality. Feedback from initial user trials with a dual-paradigm version of the system indicates that users can use it to perform complex query tasks without difficulty, that given the choice users overwhelmingly prefer the graph- based to the text-based interaction style, and that graphical visualisation of textual queries appears to aid users in query construction.

REFERENCES

• 1: [1] G. Al-Qaimari, N. W. Paton, and A. C. Kilgour. Visualising Advanced Data Modelling Constructs. "Information and Software Technology", 36(10):265-281, 1994.
• 2: David Beech, A Foundation for Evolution from Relational to Object Databases, Proceedings of the International Conference on Extending Database Technology: Advances in Database Technology, p.251-270, March 14-18, 1988
• 3: John E. Bell , Lawrence A. Rowe, An Exploratory Study of Ad Hoc Query Languages to Databases, Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Data Engineering, p.606-613, February 03-07, 1992
• 4: Tiziana Catarci , Shi Kuo Chang , Giuseppe Santucci, Query representation and management in a multiparadigmatic visual query environment, Journal of Intelligent Information Systems, v.3 n.3-4, p.299-330, July 1994 [doi>10.1007/BF00962240]
• 5: Mariano P. Consens , Isabel F. Cruz , Alberto O. Mendelzon, Visualizing queries and querying visualizations, ACM SIGMOD Record, v.21 n.1, p.39-46, March 1992 [doi>10.1145/130868.130874]
• 6: O. Deux et al., The Story of O2, IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering, v.2 n.1, p.91-108, March 1990 [doi>10.1109/69.50908 ]
• 7: [7] D. K. Doan, N. W. Paton, A. C. Kilgour, and G. Al-Qaimari. A Multi-Paradigm Query Interface To An Object-Oriented Database. In to appear in Interacting with Computers, 1994.
• 8: [8] M. Gemis, J. Paredaens, and I. Thyssens. A Visual Database Management Interface Based on GOOD. In The 1st International Workshop on Interfaces to Database Systems, Glasgow, pages 25-31. Springer-Verlag, 1993. R. Cooper (Ed).
• 9: Uwe Hohenstein , Regina Lauffer , Petra Weikert, Object-Oriented Database Systems: How Much SQL Do They Understand?, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Database and Expert Systems Applications, p.15-26, September 07-09, 1994
• 10: Anthony Papantonakis , Peter J. H. King, Gql, a declarative graphical query language based on the functional data model, Proceedings of the workshop on Advanced visual interfaces, p.113-122, June 01-04, 1994, Bari, Italy [doi>10.1145/192309.192336]
• 11: N. W. Paton, ADAM: an object-oriented database system implemented in Prolog, Proceedings of the seventh British national conference on Databases, p.147-161, February 1990, Heriot-Watt Univ., Englnad
• 12: David W. Shipman, The functional data model and the data languages DAPLEX, ACM Transactions on Database Systems (TODS), v.6 n.1, p.140-173, March 1981 [doi>10.1145/319540.319561]
• 13: Ben Shneiderman, Designing the user interface (2nd ed.): strategies for effective human-computer interaction, Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Boston, MA, 1992
• 14: [14] S. Tallard. A multimodal approach for an Object-Oriented Database Query. In Basque International Workshop on IT (BIWIT), pages 209-222. CEPADUES Press, 1994. C. Chrisment (ed).
• 15: Stanley B. Zdonik , David Maier, Readings in object-oriented database systems, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., San Francisco, CA, 1989

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.1 PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
  H.2 DATABASE MANAGEMENT
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Human Factors, Management, Performance, Theory

Keywords:
multiparadigm, object-oriented database, query interface, user testing