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.