A visual query building tool for microsoft SQL server

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide insight into the vast area of query visualisation by investigating issues present in database usability, the difficulty factor present in query formulation, the problems brought about by high-level query languages such as SQL for non-expert users, and the human factors present in such query languages. An analysis of existing software solutions in the area is carried out and their benefits and shortcomings are investigated. Furthermore, a system is proposed and implemented as a proof of concept, which addresses many of the shortcomings present in existing solutions. Many existing query builders are not usable enough for users with little to no knowledge of SQL and database theory. Furthermore, another problem exists in that most of the existing work in the area is characterised by low levels of expressive power when compared to SQL and other query languages. Hence this dissertation aims to improve on these products' shortcomings by attempting to create a visual query builder with high expressive power, and which can be utilised by users who do not know SQL, to formulate both simple and complex queries. As demonstrated in the evaluation, the artefact's main aims were successful as casual users with no knowledge of SQL were able to formulate a number of queries, while expert users certified the application's ability to formulate more complex queries, thus indicating that the desired levels of usability and expressive power were satisfied.