Method for improved processing of expression-based data

• US 20070027890A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Weinberg, Paul, Endo, Rich, Poyourow, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/215 Improving data quality; Data cleansing, e.g. de-duplication, removing invalid entries or correcting typographical errors

Abstract

Expression-based data may comprise data that is processed by a validation expression for example. After a validation expression is created it may then be performed with respect to one or more data values or data records. A validation expression returns a Boolean result that signifies a success or failure result. A validation expression can define complex intra-record tests and inter-record tests with unlimited complexity. In order to improve processing of validations, the system uses virtual data known as calculation fields. Calculation fields are stored in memory at runtime and not in a database thereby eliminating the necessity of selecting and updating records in the database. A dirty bit identifying fields and attributes that need to be calculated based on a dependent data may be used to defer calculation to a later time when the calculation field is displayed or a sort operation occurs for example.

Claims

1. A method for improved processing of expression-based data in a computer system comprising:

displaying a validation on a user interface of a computer system wherein said validation comprises a validation expression that returns a Boolean value;

obtaining a level of execution for said validation wherein said level of execution comprises a plurality of levels including warning and error;

obtaining data from memory wherein said data is a computation field that is not stored in a database and wherein said data depends on the values of other data;

executing said validation wherein said validation makes use of said data; and

,

returning said Boolean value resulting from said executing said validation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using said validation as a search filter.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

limiting a drill-down search using said validation in conjunction with a hierarchal search tool.

4. The method of claim 1Error! Reference source not found. further comprising:

limiting a drill-down search using said validation in conjunction with a free form search tool.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a manual execution menu; and

,

obtaining said validation from said manual execution menu.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a warning when said executing said validation fails when said level of execution is warning level; and

,

updating at least one record.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an error when said executing said validation fails when said level of execution is error level; and

,

forgoing the update of at least one record.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said executing said validation comprises executing said validation as part of a workflow.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying said Boolean value in association with at least one record on which said validation is executed.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said displaying further comprises displaying said Boolean value in a column associated with said at least one record on said user interface.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said executing said validation comprises setting a tooltip value for a validation result column associated with said at least one record on said user interface wherein said tooltip value shows a message that is associated with said validation.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

grouping at least one validation comprising said validation into a validation group; and

,

said executing said validation further comprising executing all validations in said validation group.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

forming a hierarchy comprising said at least one validation.

14. A method for performing expression-based validation in a computer system comprising:

displaying a validation on a user interface of a computer system wherein said validation comprises a validation expression that returns a Boolean value;

obtaining data from memory wherein said data is a computation field that is not stored in a database and wherein said data depends on the values of other data;

executing said validation wherein said validation makes use of said data;

returning said Boolean value resulting from said executing said validation; and

,

displaying said Boolean value in association with at least one record on which said validation is executed.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said displaying further comprises displaying said Boolean value in a column associated with said at least one record on said user interface.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said executing said validation comprises setting a tooltip value for a validation result column associated with said at least one record on said user interface wherein said tooltip value shows a message that is associated with said validation.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

using said validation as a search filter.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

limiting a drill-down search using said validation in conjunction with a hierarchal search tool.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

limiting a drill-down search using said validation in conjunction with a free form search tool.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

displaying a manual execution menu; and

,

obtaining said validation from said manual execution menu.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

obtaining a level of execution for said validation wherein said level of execution comprises a plurality of levels including warning level and error level.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

displaying a warning when said executing said validation fails when said level of execution is said warning level; and

,

updating at least one record.

23. A method for performing expression-based validation in a computer system comprising:

displaying a validation on a user interface of a computer system wherein said validation comprises a validation expression that returns a Boolean value;

obtaining data from memory wherein said data is a computation field that is not stored in a database and wherein said data depends on the values of other data;

executing said validation wherein said validation makes use of said data;

returning said Boolean value resulting from said executing said validation; and

,

using said validation as a search filter.