Example-based graphical database query languages

Several user-friendly graphical database query languages that let users formulate a query by specifying a graphically aided example on the screen are compared. One of the earliest such languages, M.M. Zloof´s (1977) Query-by-Example, is described. Other languages discussed are Aggregates-by-Example, Summary-Table-by-Example, and Query-by-Statistical-Relational-Table for statistical and scientific databases; Time-by-Example for historical databases; Generalized-Query-by-Example for relational, network, and hierarchical databases; Office-by-Example, Formanager, the Natural Forms Query Language, and System-for-Business-Automation for office environments; and Picquery and Query-by-Pictorial-Example for pictorial (image) databases. The basic features, query specification and interpretation, object manipulation, query language constructs, and query processing techniques used in each of the languages are discussed.