System and method for identifying element usage in a deep element structure

• US 20090030871A1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Dai, Poulin, Jerome, Falardeau, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2453 Query optimisation

Abstract

A system for identifying usage of a target data element including both direct and indirect usage, within a data element structure where the target data element may have more than one parent data element. The system includes a usage processing engine configure to identify direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element within the data element structure and a user interface configured to display the direct and indirect usage data elements for the target element in a hierarchical structure.

Claims

1. A system for identifying usage of a target data element including both direct and indirect usage, within a data element structure where the target data element may have more than one parent data element, comprising:

a usage processing engine configure to identify direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element within the data element structure; and

a user interface configured to display the direct and indirect usage data elements for the target element in a hierarchical structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage processing engine is configured to identify direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element in accordance with a user-defined query depth parameter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage processing engine is configured to identify direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element in accordance with a user-defined object type parameter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying indirect usage data elements includes identifying all direct usage data elements for direct usage data elements for the target data element.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying indirect usage data elements includes identifying direct usage data elements for direct usage data elements for the target data element that would be affect by to a change in the target data element.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the data elements displayed in the user interface include links allowing the user to access and manipulate the data element.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element includes identifying only those elements associated with a single particular indirect usage data element.

8. A method for identifying usage of a target data element including both direct and indirect usage, within a data element structure where the target data element may have more than one parent data element, comprising:

receiving a target data element identifier;

identifying direct usage data elements for the target data element within the data element structure;

identifying indirect usage data elements for the target data element within the data element structure; and

displaying the direct and indirect usage data elements for the target element in a hierarchical structure.

9. The method of claim 8, further including identifying direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element in accordance with a user-defined query depth parameter.

10. The method of claim 8, further including identifying direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element in accordance with a user-defined object type parameter.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying indirect usage data elements includes identifying all direct usage data elements for direct usage data elements for the target data element.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying indirect usage data elements includes identifying direct usage data elements for direct usage data elements for the target data element that would be affect by to a change in the target data element.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the data elements includes providing a link allowing the user to access and manipulate the data element.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element includes identifying only those elements associated with a single particular indirect usage data element.

15. A system for identifying usage of a target data element, including both direct and indirect usage, within a data element structure where the target data element may have more than one parent data element, comprising:

a memory queue configured to receive and store a listing of data elements, each data element including a plurality of data element fields and representing one or more software elements within a software workbench;

a usage processing engine configure to identify direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element within the data element structure; and

a user interface configured to display the direct and indirect usage data elements for the target element in a hierarchical structure.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the usage processing engine is configured to identify direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element in accordance with a user-defined query depth parameter.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the usage processing engine is configured to identify direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element in accordance with a user-defined object type parameter.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein identifying indirect usage data elements includes identifying all direct usage data elements for direct usage data elements for the target data element.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein identifying indirect usage data elements includes identifying direct usage data elements for direct usage data elements for the target data element that would be affect by to a change in the target data element.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the data elements displayed in the user interface include links allowing the user to access and manipulate the data element.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein identifying direct and indirect usage data elements for the target data element includes identifying only those elements associated with a single particular indirect usage data element.