Finally the only way to avoid much typing is to use a graphical interface. A user graphical interface is being developed with the really fantastic tool called OpenWindows Developer's Guide 3.0, which allows to build windows, locate the widgets (choice panel, buttons, menus and so on), and create links with actions. The first version has been made for Open Look with SUN's Xview library. It offers a query mode based on the use of choice settings, command buttons and menus. It would however be useful to have a version of this interface done with the X Intrinsics Toolkit to port the interface to workstations using the Motif widgets.
The basic concept of the window presentation is to have a selection panel for choosing datatypes and command buttons or menus to perform the actions. The command part is a pile of five panels called: Interrogation, Selection, Application, Documentation and Development. The first command panel only has been completed and it allows to query measurements, list files, query the bibliography and references. Short on-line help explaining how to use the interface and each button has been prepared. It is activated in the standard manner, i.e. by setting the mouse pointer on the button and pressing the keyboard key <help>. Parts of the other panels have been realised to date.