Generating Visual Interfaces Using SQLi from Reusable Queries in Autonomous Applications

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Generating Visual Interfaces Using SQLi from
Reusable Queries in Autonomous Applications

• Hasan Jamil
• Department of Computer Science
• Wayne State University

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Motivation Integration
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Virtual Warehousing LifeDB
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Abstract Model of Integration
? ?(di)?(dj)? (di,dj,)
? ?(Di)? (Di ,T)
?
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An Example in BioFlow

• define data sequences_1 at GenBankURL to extract
  (seq_1 DNA)
• define data sequences_2 at FlyBaseURL to extract
  (seq_2 DNA)
• define tool orf at URL to submit (seq DNA, target
  organism) extract (score int, predicted_region
  DNA)
• combine sequences_1, sequences_2 into
  sequences(seqs)
• select sequence, orf(seqs)
• from sequences

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How About Interfaces?

• For probe queries hypothesis testing
• User interfaces

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Automatic and Ad Hoc Interfaces Why?

• Less expectations on users computing skills
• Applications such as Bioinformatics, disaster
  mitigation, process simulation
• Query requirements change frequently
• Yet an interface is needed for the users
• Rapid response is needed
• Short lived interfaces
• Mission specific
• Ad hoc interfaces
• Automatic
• Use and discard

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Example

• CUSTOMER(name, id, street, city)
• BORROW(isbn, id)
• NOVEL(isbn, abstract, keyword, page, title)
• select street, city, name
• from CUSTOMER
• where id '1234'
• select name, street, city, title
• from CUSTOMER c, BORROW b, NOVEL n
• where c.id b.id and b.isbn n.isbn and
  n.keyword 'World War II'

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Subtleties

• Attribute order does not matter in SQL
• Interface displays is a different matter all
  together
• Layout
• Color
• Buttons
• Options
• Interface Description Language

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System Architecture
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Related Research

• VISIONARY Benzi et al, 1998
• VisTool
• Visual Query Systems Chwelos and Maitei, 1993
• Dynamic Filter and Display Systems
• SQLD Baral et al, 1998
• Display specification within the query

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SQLi Jamil and Zhou, AVI, 2001

• Display specification in the scheme
• Automatic layout and ordering
• Automatic display generation
• Simplicity and expressiveness
• Non-intrusiveness
• Flexibility
• Extensibility

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SQLi Example

• PUBLISHER (name, rptn, hoaddr,boaddr1, boaddr2)
• PUBLISH (isbn, name, price, copy, year)
• NOVEL(isbn, abstract, keyword, page, format,
  title)
• create table PUBLISHER
• (name varchar2(20) as 'Publisher
• constraint publisher_name_nn not null,
• display ordering (name lt hoaddr, hoaddr lt
  boaddr1, hoaddr lt boaddr2, boaddr1 lt rptn,
  boaddr2 lt rptn)

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create interface statement

• create interface find_details
• select p.isbn, p.price, p.copy, r.name
• from PUBLISHER r, PUBLISH p
• where p.isbn isbn and r.rptn rptn and
  r.name name and p.copy copy and p.name
  r.name

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Ordering among tables

• create ordering tabordering
• NOVEL lt PUBLISH, PUBLISH lt PUBLISHER)
• create interface find_details as
• select p.isbn, p.price, p.copy, r.name
• with ordering (p.copy lt p.price, r.name lt
  p.price)
• from PUBLISHER r, PUBLISH p
• where p.isbn isbn and r.rptn rptn and
• r.name name and p.copy copy and
• p.name r.name

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Determining Display Order

• DFS(G)
• for each vertex u in VG do coloru WHITE
• time 0
• back 0
• result nil
• for each vertex u in VG
• do if coloru WHITE
• then DFS-Visit (u)
• output the result
• DFS-Visit (u)
• coloru gray
• du time time 1
• for each v in Adju
• do if colorv GRAY
• then back back 1 else if
  colorv WHITE then DFS-Visit (v)
• coloru BLACK
• fu time time 1
• insert u at the beginning of result

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SQLi Interface Through ExampleSDL/IDL
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SQL/IDL Example
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Interface in Action
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Summary

• SQL/IDL based on SQLi is a prototype
• Support for ad hoc display stying
• System support for interface generation
• Support for querying meta-data
• Editable interface is our next goal

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• Thank You
• Questions?