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: supporting user initiation of 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; 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 the selected communication interface and identifying a bi-directional communication protocol used by said selected communication interface; and supporting user initiation of a display of a third menu for retrieving information indicating connection properties of connections with said source and said destination and enabling user comparison of connection properties of connections with said source and said destination.