Query by Browsing: A Visual Query Language Based on the Relational Model and the Desktop User Interface Paradigm

Query by Browsing (QBB) is a visual query language that combines concepts from the relational model and the ubiquitous desktop user interface paradigm. It is a relationally complete method with recursive query capabilities that allows the creation of complex intentional and extensional queries using a direct manipulation interface that resembles a file browser in a modern operating system. In this paper we introduce the QBB paradigm and describe the reasons behind its inception. We also briefly discuss Chiromancer, an implementation of the QBB paradigm on the Palm platform that is underway and which to our knowledge is the first relationally complete visual query interface for a handheld device 1 .

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