Towards a Unified Query-by-Example (UQBE): UML as a Basis for a Generic Graphical Query Language

XML is a widely used general-purpose annotation formalism for creating custom markup languages. XML annotations give structure to plain documents to interpret their content. To extract information from XML documents XPath and XQuery languages can be used. However, the learning of these dialects requires a considerable effort. In this context, the traditional Query-By-Example methodology (for Relational Databases) can be an important contribution to leverage this learning process, freeing the user from knowing the specific query language details or even the document structure. This chapter describes how to apply the Query-By-Example concept in a Web-application for information retrieval from XML documents, the GuessXQ system. This engine is capable of deducing, from an example, the respective XQuery statement. The example consists of marking the desired components directly on a sample document, picked-up from a collection. After inferring the corresponding query, GuessXQ applies it to the collection to obtain the desired result.

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Constraint-Based Multi-Dimensional Databases

Database Technologies ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-058-5.ch056 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 961-986

Author(s):

Franck Ravat ◽

Olivier Teste ◽

Gilles Zurfluh

Keyword(s):

Graphical Representation ◽

Query Language ◽

Computer Scientist ◽

Data Querying ◽

Definition Of ◽

Multidimensional Modelling ◽

Graphical Query Language ◽

Drill Down

This chapter deals with constraint-based multidimensional modelling. The model we define integrates a constellation of facts and dimensions. Along each dimension, various hierarchies are possibly defined and the model supports multiple instantiations of dimensions. The main contribution is the definition of intra-dimension constraints between hierarchies of a same dimension as well as inter-dimension constraints of various dimensions. To facilitate data querying, we define a multi-dimensional query algebra, which integrates the main multi-dimensional operators such as rotations, drill down, roll up… These operators support the constraint-based multi-dimensional modelling. Finally, we present two implementations of this algebra. First, OLAP-SQL is a textual language integrating multi-dimensional concepts (fact, dimension, hierarchy), but it is based on classical SQL syntax. This language is dedicated to specialists such as multi-dimensional database administrators. Second, a graphical query language is presented. This language consists in a graphical representation of multi-dimensional databases, and users specify directly their queries over this graph. This approach is dedicated to non-computer scientist users.

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Constraint-Based Multi-Dimensional Databases

Database Modeling for Industrial Data Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-59140-684-6.ch011 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 323-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Franck Ravat ◽

Olivier Teste ◽

Gilles Zurfluh

Keyword(s):

Graphical Representation ◽

Query Language ◽

Computer Scientist ◽

Data Querying ◽

Definition Of ◽

Graphical Query Language ◽

Drill Down

This chapter deals with constraint-based multi-dimensional modelling. The model we define integrates a constellation of facts and dimensions. Along each dimension, various hierarchies are possibly defined and the model supports multiple instantiations of dimensions. The main contribution is the definition of intra-dimension constraints between hierarchies of a same dimension as well as inter-dimension constraints of various dimensions. To facilitate data querying, we define a multi-dimensional query algebra, which integrates the main multi-dimensional operators such as rotations, drill down, roll up… These operators support the constraint-based multi-dimensional modelling. Finally, we present two implementations of this algebra. First, OLAP-SQL is a textual language integrating multi-dimensional concepts (fact, dimension, hierarchy), but it is based on classical SQL syntax. This language is dedicated tospecialists such as multi-dimensional database administrators. Second, a graphical query language is presented. This language consists in a graphical representation of multi-dimensional databases, and users specify directly their queries over this graph. This approach is dedicated to non-computer scientist users.

Download Full-text