1. In a user interface system employed in retrieving information from an information repository used in exchanging data between different electronic data systems, a method comprising the steps of: initiating display of a first menu supporting user selection of a bi-directional communication interface from a plurality of different communication interfaces between electronic data systems employing incompatible communication interfaces having respective different data exchange communication characteristics, said bi-directional communication interface having data exchange communication characteristics enabling communicating data between a particular source using a first communication protocol and first data format and a particular destination using a different second communication protocol and second data format; and in response to user selection of said bi-directional communication interface, initiating display of a second menu supporting user entry of data determining data exchange communication characteristic information to be retrieved from said information repository for said selected communication interface.