Method, System and Computer Program Product for Automating the Selection and Ordering of Column Data in a Table for a User

• US 20090222760A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Halverson, Steven G., Hintermeister, Gregory R.
• Application Number:
  US12/039,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222760A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for automating the selection and ordering of column data in a table for a user are presented. In an exemplary manner, when a selected column is received, at least one available column related to the selected column is automatically recommended for display in an active table view. In response to the selected column being placed in the automatic data manipulation mode, a manipulation relationship between the selected column and the available column(s) is identified. When the selected column is manipulated (e.g., sorted, filtered), the available column(s) related to the selected column are automatically manipulated. The related available column(s) that are automatically recommended are concurrently displayed and grouped with the selected column in an active table view. Moreover, if a sort relationship exists between the available column(s) and the manipulated selected column, the related available column(s) are displayed according to the sort relationship.

Claims

1. A method for automating the selection and ordering of column data in a table for a user, the method comprising:

receiving a selected column data for display in an active table view;

in response to receiving said selected column data, automatically recommending for display in said active table view at least one available column data related to said selected column data;

placing said selected column data in an automatic data manipulation mode;

in response to placing said selected column data in said automatic data manipulation mode, identifying a manipulation relationship between said selected column data and said at least one available column data related to said selected column data;

manipulating said selected column data in said automatic data manipulation mode, wherein said manipulating step of said selected column data is an initial column action including at least one of an initial column data sort or an initial column data filter;

responsive to said initial column action of said selected column data, automatically manipulating said at least one available column data related to said selected column data, wherein said automatic manipulating step of said at least one available column data is a subsequent column action including at least one of a subsequent column data sort or a subsequent column data filter; and

concurrently displaying in said active table view said selected column data in an initial column data manipulation view and said at least one available column data related to said selected column data in a subsequent column data manipulation view.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

physically positioning within said active table view said at least one available column data in a first position relative to a second position of said selected column data, wherein said physical positioning is based upon a degree of correlation between said selected column data and said at least one available column data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said degree of correlation between said selected column data and said at least one available column data is based on predetermined metadata identifying at least one weighted relationship between said selected column data and at least one available column data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing said at least one available column data from said active table view when said selected column data is removed from said active table view.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the available column data related to said selected column data for display in said active table view is manipulated in the same manner as said manipulation of said selected column data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically indicating to said user a relevance for displaying in said active table view said selected column data with said at least one available column data.

7. A computer program product for automating the selection and ordering of column data in a table for a user comprising:

a computer storage medium; and

program code on the computer storage medium that when executed provides the functions of;

receiving a selected column data for display in an active table view;

in response to receiving said selected column data, automatically recommending for display in said active table view at least one available column data related to said selected column data;

placing said selected column data in an automatic data manipulation mode;

in response to placing said selected column data in said automatic data manipulation mode, identifying a manipulation relationship between said selected column data and said at least one available column data related to said selected column data;

manipulating said selected column data in said automatic data manipulation mode, wherein said manipulating step of said selected column data is an initial column action including at least one of an initial column data sort or an initial column data filter;

responsive to said selected column action of said selected column data, automatically manipulating said at least one available column data related to said selected column data, wherein said automatic manipulating step of said at least one available column data is a subsequent column action including at least one of a subsequent column data sort or a subsequent column data filter; and

concurrently displaying in said active table view said selected column data in an initial column data manipulation view and said at least one available column data related to said selected column data in a subsequent column data manipulation view.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program code further provides the function of:

physically positioning within said active table view said at least one available column data in a first position relative to a second position of said selected column data, wherein said physical positioning is based upon a degree of correlation between said selected column data and said at least one available column data.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said degree of correlation between said selected column data and said at least one available column data is based on predetermined metadata identifying at least one weighted relationship between said selected column data and at least one available column data.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program code further provides the function of:

removing said at least one available column data from said active table view when said selected column data is removed from said active table view.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the available column data related to said selected column data for display in said active table view is manipulated in the same manner as said manipulation of said selected column data.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program code further provides the function of:

automatically indicating to said user a relevance for displaying in said active table view said selected column data with said at least one available column data.

13. A computer system comprising:

a processor unit;

a memory coupled to the processor unit; and

a Smart Column Ordering (SCO) utility executing on the processor unit and having executable code for;

receiving a selected column data for display in an active table view;

in response to receiving said selected column data, automatically recommending for display in said active table view at least one available column data related to said selected column data;

placing said selected column data in an automatic data manipulation mode;

in response to placing said selected column data in said automatic data manipulation mode, identifying a manipulation relationship between said selected column data and said at least one available column data related to said selected column data;

manipulating said selected column data in said automatic data manipulation mode, wherein said manipulating step of said selected column data is an initial column action including at least one of an initial column data sort or an initial column data filter;

responsive to said selected column action of said selected column data, automatically manipulating said at least one available column data related to said selected column data, wherein said automatic manipulating step of said at least one available column data is a subsequent column action including at least one of a subsequent column data sort or a subsequent column data filter; and

concurrently displaying in said active table view said selected column data in an initial column data manipulation view and said at least one available column data related to said selected column data in a subsequent column data manipulation view.

14. The computer system of claim 13, the SCO utility further having executable code for:

physically positioning within said active table view said at least one available column data in a first position relative to a second position of said selected column data, wherein said physical positioning is based upon a degree of correlation between said selected column data and said at least one available column data.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said degree of correlation between said selected column data and said at least one available column data is based on predetermined metadata identifying at least one weighted relationship between said selected column data and at least one available column data.

16. The computer system of claim 13, the SCO utility further having executable code for:

removing said at least one available column data from said active table view when said selected column data is removed from said active table view.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the available column data related to said selected column data for display in said active table view is manipulated in the same manner as said manipulation of said selected column data.

18. The computer system of claim 13, the SCO utility further having executable code for:

automatically indicating to said user a relevance for displaying in said active table view said selected column data with said at least one available column data.