Method for accessing database table columns

• US 20020161754A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Janssen, Ocke
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The data type of requested data stored in a column of a database table is determined and the data accessed in the data type in which the data is stored. The data type can then be converted to a second data type before outputting the data.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for accessing data in a column of a database table, the method comprising:

receiving a request for data, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a first data type;

accessing the data in the first data type;

converting the data from the first data type to a second data type; and

outputting the data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the first data type.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting an option provided in a context menu, the option providing for display of the first data type; and

displaying the first data type.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including an option to request display of the first data type;

selecting the option to request display of the first data type, the selection inputting a request to display the first data type; and

displaying the first data type.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether to display the first data type; and

upon a determination to display the first data type, displaying the first data type.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for data is input from at least one of a user, a program application, and a component of a program application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the data in the first data type further comprises:

a) selecting an access method n to access the data, the access method n being able to access data of a particular data type, the access method n being at least one of a plurality of n access methods able to access data of a particular data type;

b) executing the access method n to attempt access of the data;

c) determining if the data is successfully accessed by the access method n;

d) upon a determination that the data is not successfully accessed by the access method n, incrementing n so that a different access method n is selected, and

repeating operations a, b, and c; and

e) upon a determination that the data is successfully accessed by the access method n, accessing the data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the access method n is implemented in a database driver.

9. A computer-based method for accessing data in a column of a database table, the method comprising:

receiving a request for data, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a first data type;

accessing the data in the first data type;

determining whether to convert the data from the first data type to a second data type; and

outputting the data.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

upon a determination to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type, converting the first data type to the second data type.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein outputting the data further comprises:

outputting the converted data.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the request for data is input from at least one of a user, a program application, and a component of a program application.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein converting the data from the first data type to the second data type further comprises:

determining at least one second data type conversion option, the at least one second data type conversion option indicating a second data type into which the data of the first data type can be converted;

displaying the at least one second data type conversion option;

selecting a second data type conversion option, the selection of the second data type conversion option indicating selection of a second data type; and

converting the data from the first data type to the selected second data type.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether to display the first data type further comprises:

displaying a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including an option to request display of the first data type,

whereupon selecting the option to request display of the first data type is a determination to display the first data type,

and further whereupon, not selecting the option to request display of the first data type is a determination not to display the first data type.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether to convert the data from a first data type to a second data type further comprises:

displaying a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including an option to convert the data from the first data type to a second data type,

whereupon selecting the option to convert the data from the first data type to the second data is a determination to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type,

and further whereupon, not selecting the option to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type is a determination not to convert the first data type to the second data type.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:

a context menu.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

displaying the first data type.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

selecting an option provided in a context menu, the option providing for display of the first data type; and

displaying the first data type.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including an option to request display of the first data type;

selecting the option to request display of the first data type, the selection inputting a request to display the first data type; and

displaying the first data type.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

determining whether to display the first data type; and

upon a determination to display the first data type, displaying the first data type.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the request for data is input from at least one of a user, a program application, and a component of a program application.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein accessing the data in the first data type further comprises:

a) selecting an access method n to access the data, the access method n being able to access data of a particular data type, the access method n being at least one of a plurality of n access methods able to access data of a particular data type;

b) executing the access method n to attempt access of the data;

c) determining if the data is successfully accessed by the access method n;

d) upon a determination that the data is not successfully accessed by the access method n, incrementing n so that a different access method n is selected, and

repeating operations a, b, and c; and

e) upon a determination that the data is successfully accessed by the access method n, accessing the data.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the access method n is implemented in a database driver.

28. The computer program product of claim 27 further comprising:

upon a determination to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type, converting the first data type to the second data type.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein outputting the data further comprises:

outputting the converted data.

12. A computer-based method for accessing data in a column of a database table, the method comprising:

receiving a request for data in a requested data type, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a column data type;

accessing the data in the column data type;

determining if the column data type is the same as the requested data type;

upon a determination that the column data type is the same as the requested data type, outputting the data; and

upon a determination that the column data type is not the same as the requested data type, converting the column data type to the requested data type, and outputting the data.

14. A computer-based method for accessing data in a column of a database table, the method comprising:

receiving a request for data, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a first data type;

determining whether to display the first data type;

upon a determination to display the first data type, displaying the first data type;

upon a determination not to display the first data type, not displaying the first data type;

accessing the data in the first data type;

determining whether to convert the data from the first data type to a second data type;

upon a determination to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type, converting the data from the first data type to the second data type;

upon a determination not to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type, not converting the data; and

outputting the data.

19. A computer program product for accessing data in a column of a database table, the computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions for a method comprising:

receiving a request for data, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a first data type;

accessing the data in the first data type;

converting the data from the first data type to a second data type; and

outputting the data.

27. A computer program product for accessing data in a column of a database table, the computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions for a method comprising:

receiving a request for data, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a first data type;

accessing the data in the first data type;

determining whether to convert the data from the first data type to a second data type; and

outputting the data.

30. A computer program product for accessing data in a column of a database table, the computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions for a method comprising:

receiving a request for data in a requested data type, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a column data type;

accessing the data in the column data type;

determining if the column data type is the same as the requested data type;

upon a determination that the column data type is the same as the requested data type, outputting the data; and

upon a determination that the column data type is not the same as the requested data type, converting the column data type to the requested data type, and outputting the data.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the request for data is input from at least one of a user, a program application, and a component of a program application.

32. A computer program product for accessing data in a column of a database table, the computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions for a method comprising:

receiving a request for data, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a first data type;

determining whether to display the first data type;

upon a determination to display the first data type, displaying the first data type;

upon a determination not to display the first data type, not displaying the first data type;

accessing the data in the first data type;

determining whether to convert the data from the first data type to a second data type;

upon a determination to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type, converting the data from the first data type to the second data type;

upon a determination not to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type, not converting the data; and

outputting the data.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein converting the data from the first data type to the second data type further comprises:

determining at least one second data type conversion option, the at least one second data type conversion option indicating a second data type into which the data of the first data type can be converted;

displaying the at least one second data type conversion option;

selecting a second data type conversion option, the selection of the second data type conversion option indicating selection of a second data type; and

converting the data from the first data type to the selected second data type.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein determining whether to display the first data type further comprises:

displaying a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including an option to request display of the first data type,

whereupon selecting the option to request display of the first data type is a determination to display the first data type,

and further whereupon, not selecting the option to request display of the first data type is a determination not to display the first data type.

35. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein determining whether to convert the data from a first data type to a second data type further comprises:

displaying a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including an option to convert the data from the first data type to a second data type,

whereupon selecting the option to convert the data from the first data type to the second data is a determination to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type,

and further whereupon, not selecting the option to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type is a determination not to convert the first data type to the second data type.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:

a context menu.

38. The computer system of claim 37, the method further comprising:

displaying the first data type.

39. The computer system of claim 37, wherein in the method, accessing the data in the first data type further comprises:

a) selecting an access method n to access the data, the access method n being able to access data of a particular data type, the access method n being at least one of a plurality of n access methods able to access data of a particular data type;

b) executing the access method n to attempt access of the data;

c) determining if the data is successfully accessed by the access method n;

d) upon a determination that the data is not successfully accessed by the access method n, incrementing n so that a different access method n is selected, and

repeating operations a, b, and c; and

e) upon a determination that the data is successfully accessed by the access method n, accessing the data.

37. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, and having stored therein computer code for a method for accessing data in a column of a database table, wherein upon execution of the computer code on the processor, the method comprises;

receiving a request for data, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a first data type;

accessing the data in the first data type;

converting the data from the first data type to a second data type; and

outputting the data.

40. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, and having stored therein computer code for a method for accessing data in a column of a database table, wherein upon execution of the computer code on the processor, the method comprises;

receiving a request for data, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a first data type;

accessing the data in the first data type;

determining whether to convert the data from the first data type to a second data type; and

outputting the data.

41. The computer system of claim 40, the method further comprising:

upon a determination to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type, converting the first data type to the second data type.

42. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, and having stored therein computer code for a method for accessing data in a column of a database table, wherein upon execution of the computer code on the processor, the method comprises;

receiving a request for data in a requested data type, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a column data type;

accessing the data in the column data type;

determining if the column data type is the same as the requested data type;

upon a determination that the column data type is the same as the requested data type, outputting the data; and

upon a determination that the column data type is not the same as the requested data type, converting the column data type to the requested data type, and outputting the data.

43. The computer system of claim 42, wherein in the method, the request for data is input from at least one of a user, a program application, and a component of a program application.

44. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, and having stored therein computer code for a method for accessing data in a column of a database table, wherein upon execution of the computer code on the processor, the method comprises;

receiving a request for data, the data being stored in a column of a database table;

determining the data type of the data stored in the column, the data type being of a first data type;

determining whether to display the first data type;

upon a determination to display the first data type, displaying the first data type;

upon a determination not to display the first data type, not displaying the first data type;

accessing the data in the first data type;

determining whether to convert the data from the first data type to a second data type;

upon a determination to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type, converting the data from the first data type to the second data type;

upon a determination not to convert the data from the first data type to the second data type, not converting the data; and

outputting the data.

45. The computer system of claim 44, wherein in the method, converting the data from the first data type to the second data type further comprises:

determining at least one second data type conversion option, the at least one second data type conversion option indicating a second data type into which the data of the first data type can be converted;

displaying the at least one second data type conversion option;

selecting a second data type conversion option, the selection of the second data type conversion option indicating selection of a second data type; and

converting the data from the first data type to the selected second data type.