About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Paper
The system for business automation (SBA): Programming language
Abstract
The System for Business Automation (SBA) is a system within which application experts—non-programmers—can describe and execute their applications on a computer. This paper describes the programming language part of the system. This language is a superset of Zloof's Query-by-Example. In Query-by-Example the user retains the perception of manual table manipulation by programming within two-dimensional skeleton tables displayed on the screen. In SBA the user programs within skeletons of more general business entities such as tables, forms, charts, etc. Within these displays the user programs his application as a series of Query-by-Example operations. This system can also run in a part manual, part automated manner, thus permitting fast initial use of the computer together with gradual automation of the business. © 1976, ACM. All rights reserved.