User:Jan Dittrich (WMDE)/Drafts/QueryListIdeasLanding/GUI based query Builder

Simple query builder

A form based query builder for getting lists of items you want to check or improve. It only needs basic knowledge of how the items you look for are modeled. It would not replace the query service and/or SPARQL – they are still there for more advanced queries and needs. The target group are people who do know SPARQL but want to create simple lists for maintenance (and other editing) tasks. The Simple Query Builder’s basic idea is based on the observation that beginners like to use the query helper.

Some relevant info on what the tool would and would not do:

• It does not sync immediately with the SPARQL code. This makes it easier to ensure that the queries make sense in the visual representation.
• It can define queries which search for items which do not have certain properties (Like MINUS in SPARQL)
• It would also not (yet) be integrated in the query service editor interface: Keeping it in a separate place allows us to try out ideas and react to feedback far quicker.

While there could be many functions one wants to implement, we would start deliberately simple and focus on new users and/or efficient creation of simple maintenance queries. We can still extend it later. However, we need to keep in mind that a visual interface for complex queries can easily become as complex as SPARQL itself.

Wireframes

Here are some views of how the tool could work.

Please keep in mind that these are early wireframes, the actual product would not feature a sketch-like look.

• 
  The simple query builder with a minimum of functions used, just giving items that have a certain property/value connection.
• 
  Example of the simple query builder with most functions used returning a list of all female artists which do lack a place of birth:
• 
  In their simplest form the query results will just a list of linked items, identifiable by their label
• 
  Given that we found out how important (indirect) exchange and communication is, we also would think of adding a way to provide a description as well as links and ways to export the query
• 
  Storing and Sharing Queries: To ease saving the queries we might also want to offer people a list of queries they created. It would still be possible to link to queries, too.

Feedback Questions:

• Do you think that such a tool is useful for simple  maintenance tasks?
• If you are not very experienced with SPARQL, can you imagine using a tool like this?
• Do you think that groups like GLAM institutions would be helped with such an interface?
• Are there functions that might not be useful in the suggestion? Are there functions that might be helpful to add (please keep in mind, it should be a beginner tool, though)