An environment for building graphical user interfaces for nested relational databases

摘要

This paper describes the architecture of an environment for building portable forms-based graphical user interfaces. The environment provides a particularly good platform for creating forms-based user interfaces to nested relational databases on a range of platforms, from workstations with bitmap screens to character based terminals. The major problems involved in creating these interfaces are the displaying of nested tables which would normally be larger than the available screen area, and the laying out of the elements of the forms-based interface inside the window. These problems are discussed and solutions to them are provided.