IBM UK has announced a new Menu-based Natural Language Query package, MBNLQ, for users of IBM ATs or PS/2s. The program is designed to generate English language data retrieval queries for accessing databases resident on AS/400, System/36, and System/38 hosts. MBLNQ queries are constructed by choosing from English language words and phrases displayed by menus. […]
IBM UK has announced a new Menu-based Natural Language Query package, MBNLQ, for users of IBM ATs or PS/2s. The program is designed to generate English language data retrieval queries for accessing databases resident on AS/400, System/36, and System/38 hosts. MBLNQ queries are constructed by choosing from English language words and phrases displayed by menus. The user specifies a choice by placing a cursor over the required word, and pressing a button on a keyboard or mouse. The software also provides the user with in-built window guidance techniques. IBM says that, bar some exceptions, the same set of queries can be used on all three systems. It also points out that with MBNLQ, there is no need for a user to learn a separate database query language. The program can run on ATs with 2Mb of memory, or PS/2 Models 50, 60, 70, and 80, with 3Mb of memory. It operates with Version 3.3 and upwards of IBM’s PC-DOS. Users are also required to have the relevant PC Support program on the host. MBNLQ is available now, and costs UKP216.