Scientists in the biological sciences need to retrieve information from a variety of data
collections, traditionally maintained in SQL databases, in order to conduct research. Because current
assistant tools are designed primarily for business and financial users, scientists have been forced to use
the notoriously difficult command-line SQL interface, supplied as standard by most database vendors.
The goal of our research has been to establish the requirements of scientific researchers and develop
specialized query assistance tools to help them query data collections across the Internet. This thesis
describes our work in developing HyperSQL, a Web-to-database scripting language, and most
importantly, Query Designer, a user-oriented tool for designing query interfaces directly on Web
browsers.
Current browsers (i.e., Netscape, Internet Explorer) do not easily interoperate with databases
without extensive "CGI" (Common Gateway Interface) programming. HyperSQL is a scripting
language that enables database administrators to construct forms-based query interfaces intended for
end-users who are not proficient with SQL. Query results are formatted as hypertext-clickable links
which can be used to browse the database for related information, bring up Web pages, or access
remote search engines. HyperSQL query interfaces are independent of the database computer, making
it possible to construct different interfaces targeting distinct groups of users.
Capitalizing on our experience with HyperSQL, we developed Query Designer, a user-oriented
tool for building query interfaces directly on Web browsers. No experience in SQL and HTML
programming is necessary. After choosing a target database, the user can build a personalized query
interface by making menu selections and filling out forms--the tool automatically establishes network
connections, and composes HTML and SQL code. The automatically generated query form can be
used immediately to issue a query, customized, or saved for later use. Results returned from the
database are dynamically formatted into hypertext for navigating related information in the database. / Graduation date: 1997
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/34470 |
| Date | 15 November 1996 |
| Creators | Newsome, Mark Ronald, 1960- |
| Contributors | Pancake, Cherri M. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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