Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Computer Science
First Advisor
Lois Delcambre
Term of Graduation
Fall 2008
Date of Publication
11-26-2008
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science
Department
Computer Science
Language
English
Subjects
Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems) -- Design, Query languages (Computer science)
DOI
10.15760/etd.2672
Physical Description
1 online resource (xiii, 304 pages)
Abstract
In contrast to a traditional setting where users express queries against the database schema, we assert that the semantics of data can often be understood by viewing the data in the context of the user interface (UI) of the software tool used to enter the data. That is, we believe that users will understand the data in a database by seeing the labels, dropdown menus, tool tips, help text, control contents, and juxtaposition or arrangement of controls that are built in to the user interface. Our goal is to allow domain experts with little technical skill to understand and query data.
In this dissertation, we present our GUi As View (Guava) framework and describe how we use forms-based UIs to generate a conceptual model that represents the information in the user interface. We then describe how we generate a query interface from the conceptual model. We characterize the resulting query language using a subset of relational algebra.
Since most application developers want to craft a physical database to meet desired performance needs independent of the schema used by the user interface, we subsequently present a general-purpose schema mapping tool called a channel that can be configured by instantiating a sequence of discrete transformations. Each transformation is an encapsulation of a physical design decision or business logic process. The channel, once configured, automatically transforms queries from our query interface into queries that address the underlying physical database, similar to a view. The channel also transforms data updates, schema updates, and constraint definitions posed against the channel’s input schema into equivalent forms against the physical schema. We present formal definitions of each transformation and properties that must be true of transformations, and prove that our definitions respect the properties.
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/16549
Recommended Citation
Terwilliger, James Felger, "Graphical User Interfaces as Updatable Views" (2008). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 2671.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.2672
Comments
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