QueloDB: a Knowledge Based Visual Query System

摘要

The construction of an intuitive visual interface that helps the user represents a necessary condition to gain user acceptance and confidence to the exploit of useful knowledge manager services. Towards this objective in the field of query formulation, we have developed QueloDB, a prototype tool for querying relational and object-oriented databases. Its most interesting features are based on its capability of reasoning on the semantics of the queries. These features are aimed at improving the interaction between inexpert users and complex databases, thanks to advanced knowledge management algorithms. Given a formal description of the conceptual model, QueloDB provides a simple, flexible, and intuitive visual interface that allow the user to: 1. interactively and iteratively build queries, exploring the semantic of database schemas via refinement and generalization of terms; 2. be prevented from making selections that would bring to semantically inconsistent queries.