This thesis focuses on the components necessary for an interface to large-scale multi-functional knowledge bases. Due to the dearth of interfaces in this area, the features of our interface, KnEd, had to be built from scratch. This construction was further hindered by two factors: KnEd was in continuous use almost from its inception in 1989 and the
task of knowledge representation was poorly understood. But, with close coordination between the designers of KnEd and the knowledge engineers, the KnEd interface was shaped into a viable system. This is justified by the growth of the Botany Knowledge Base to contain over 12,000 frames and 168,000 facts. In general, as knowledge bases increase in size and complexity, tools such as the KnEd interface will become essential.