Methods relating to data repository querying

• US 20060149724A1
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Schleier, Winfried, Ritter, Gerd M.
• Application Number:
  US11/027,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149724A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409

Abstract

A method to be performed before performing a data repository query includes receiving an input from a user, the input specifying a query to be performed in a data repository. Before performing the query, it is determined whether the query meets a predefined criterion associated with slow data repository queries. If the query meets the predefined criterion, a message is presented to the user regarding the query potentially being slow to perform, and it is provided that the user can modify the query before the query is performed. A method to be performed in association with a data repository query includes receiving an input that specifies a query to be performed in a data repository. The query is performed in the data repository. If performance of the query exceeds a predefined limit, the query is recorded. Recorded queries may be used in improving system performance or in educating users.

Claims

1. A method to be performed before performing a data repository query, the method comprising:

receiving an input from a user, the input specifying a query to be performed in a data repository;

before performing the query, determining whether the query meets a predefined criterion associated with slow data repository queries; and

if the query meets the predefined criterion, presenting a message to the user regarding the query potentially being slow to perform, and providing that the user can modify the query before the query is performed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion is a threshold for an expected selectivity of the query.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data repository is indexed in relation to at least one index attribute, and wherein the predefined criterion is that the query does not include a term for the at least one index attribute.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the message identifies the at least one index attribute to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion is that the query is equal to a previously performed slow query.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the previously performed slow query was recorded upon determining that performance of the previously performed slow query exceeded a limit selected from the group consisting of:

a predefined time for the performance, a predefined amount for data responsive to the query, a maximum number of query hits, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion is user-specific.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion is that the query matches a rule for identifying possibly slow queries, the rule being created using an observation made by a person who is knowledgeable about the data repository.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the person makes the observation upon reviewing a search screen including input fields for searching the data repository.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the person makes the observation upon reviewing a record of previously performed slow queries.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein there are several predefined criteria associated with slow data repository queries.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing the query subsequent to presenting the message.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising recording the query if performance of the query exceeds a predefined limit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predefined limit is selected from the group consisting of:

a predefined time for the performance, a predefined amount for data responsive to the query, a maximum number of hits for the query, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the user modifies the query before the query is performed.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is presented to the user upon determining that the user has previously specified several slow queries.

17. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receive an input from a user, the input specifying a query to be performed in a data repository;

before performing the query, determine whether the query meets a predefined criterion associated with slow data repository queries; and

if the query meets the predefined criterion, present a message to the user regarding the query potentially being slow to perform, and providing that the user can modify the query before the query is performed.

18. A method to be performed in association with a data repository query, the method comprising:

receiving an input that specifies a query to be performed in a data repository;

performing the query in the data repository; and

if performance of the query exceeds a predefined limit, recording the query.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the predefined limit is selected from the group consisting of:

a predefined time for the performance, a predefined amount for data responsive to the query, a maximum number of hits for the query, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the predefined limit is user-specific.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein recording the query further comprises making the query available to a person that provides technical support relating to the data repository.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein recording the query further comprises making the query available to a database administrator for the data repository.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein recording the query further comprises making the query available for comparison with at least one new query to be performed on the data repository.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one new query equals the query, further comprising presenting a message and providing that the at least one new query can be modified before being performed.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the input is one selected from the group consisting of:

a user input, a batch input, and combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein information recorded upon the performance of the query exceeding the predefined limit is selected from the group consisting of:

query details, a query origin, an identity of a user initiating the query, a name of a screen from which the query was initiated, an application program interface involved in initiating the query, call stack information, context information, and combinations thereof.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising blocking a future performance of the query.

28. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receive an input that specifies a query to be performed in a data repository;

perform the query in the data repository; and

if performance of the query exceeds a predefined criterion, record the query.