Assisted querying using instant-response interfaces

We demonstrate a novel query interface that enables users to construct a rich search query without any prior knowledge of the underlying schema or data. The interface, which is in the form of a single text input box, interacts in real-time with the users as they type, guiding them through the query construction. We discuss the issues of schema and data complexity, result size estimation, and query validity; and provide novel approaches to solving these problems. We demonstrate our query interface on two popular applications; an enterprise-wide personnel search, and a biological information database. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.5.2 [Information Interfaces and Presentation]: User Interfaces General Terms Human Factors, Design, Languages Keywords keyword, query, interface, autocompletion

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: SIGMOD
• Authors: Arnab Nandi, H. V. Jagadish
• Keywords: Database, Query Construction, Query Validity, Rich Search Query, SIGMOD 2007