Method and structure for representing complex query elements in a modelling tool

摘要

A user-friendly query modeling tool and method, for representing, creating, modifying and modeling a query language statement for use in retrieving data from a database. In accordance with the present invention, the tool includes a user interface for receiving or building and manipulating a query, a query model definition for use in populating instances of one or more query models, and a model content provider for receiving query elements from the user interface and providing them to the query model, and conversely, for retrieving query elements from the query model and providing them to the user interface. A query modeling structure and method are provided for clearly representing query statements which include an atomic element, a combined element and a relationship between the two defined by a combined operator.