Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!lethe!torsqnt!geac!maccs!maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca!wood
From: wood@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (T_Rex)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: a question of GUI style
Message-ID: <273064E6.28436@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca>
Date: 1 Nov 90 18:09:41 GMT
Sender: wood@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (T_Rex)
Distribution: na
Organization: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Lines: 29


Hello,	
	I'm in the process of writing a X based front end for a database.
I'm running into some confusion and conflicts in the process..I thought
the collective net.wisdom might help me clear this up.

	In a nut, I'm converting a text-based database front end. The 
functionality of the original front end must be retained, and, hopefully, 
the improved display tech. will allow for displaying data in a fashion that 
reflects (some of ) the relationships between data items.

	Two main problems have arisen..a) it seems that as I attempt to
appease both 'old' and 'new' functionality of the front-end, I'm getting
further and further away from the event-driven approach that seems to be at
the heart of X. Rather than waiting around for whatever it is the user decides
to do, I'm forcing sequences of actions on him/her.
...b) finding a way to elegantly incorporate the old functionality....most of
these queries simpley return some amount of text, and it seems like an awful
waste of time to just return reams of data in a window..what's the point?

	I guess what I'm looking for is input and/or references on building
graphical front ends intelligently...literature on this topic seems to be 
scarce.

I could go on about this, but for now..

Comments, Suggestions?

Thanks,		Pete Wood