Method and apparatus for calculation with display data

• US 5,390,296 A
• Filed: 10/06/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infor Enterprise Solutions Holdings Incorporated (Infor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comshare, Inc. (Infor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crandall, Richard L., Craw, Ellen R., Lieffers, Dorothy A., Lahey, James A., Miller, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/132,495
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 395/148-149, 395/154, 364/408, 345/115, 345/119, 345/121, 345/123
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for facilitating analysis of data in a data base. The data base data is displayed on a touch sensitive screen. A calculator icon is overlayed on the data. A user selects a function, such as "TOTAL," by touching a corresponding function button displayed as part of the calculator icon. The user then selects the data to be totaled by touching a row header or column header for the data rows or columns he wishes to include in the calculation. Once the data for the calculation is selected, a "=" icon is touched, and a new row or column holding the results of the calculation is inserted into the displayed data. The calculation is displayed in a window of the calculator icon as the calculation is built by the user.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating analysis of data in a data file stored in a computer system comprising the following steps executed by the computer system:

displaying on a computer screen a view of the data file, the view having data arranged in rows and columns;

displaying a calculator icon on the computer screen, the calculator icon including a plurality of button representations each corresponding to a different function that can be applied to rows and columns in the data file and a display area for displaying ones of the functions;

receiving from an input device information identifying a one of the functions selected by the user;

receiving from the input device information identifying a row or a column of the data file to which the selected function is to be applied;

displaying in the display area of the calculator icon an equation defining an application of the selected function to the identified row or column;

applying the selected function to all data in the identified row or column data to produce a set of calculated results;

entering the set of calculated results into the data file; and

displaying the set of calculated results on the computer screen as part of the displayed data file proximate to the identified row or column.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein certain displayed data file portions are appropriate for the selected function, further comprising the step of:

altering the view of the data file after receiving the information identifying the selected function and before receiving the information identifying the identified row or column to indicate the portions of the displayed data file which are appropriate for the selected function.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein certain ones of the displayed functions are appropriate to apply along with the selected function, further including the step of:

altering the button representations of the functions after receiving the information identifying the selected function and before receiving the information identifying the identified row or column to indicate additional ones of said functions which are appropriate to apply along with the selected function.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data file has at least two dimensions, and wherein the method includes the steps of

receiving from the input device an indication of a different view of the data file to be added to the data file representation;

and

displaying the different view of the data file, including the set of calculated results, on the computer screen.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of

displaying, in a portion of the calculator icon, an indication of the selected function applied to the identified row or column.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the substep of displaying the equation includes the substeps of

displaying the equation, before receiving the information identifying the identified row or column, to include a place-holder symbol and a symbol indicating the selected function;

and

altering the displayed equation, after the information identifying the identified row or column is received, so that the place-holder symbol is replaced by a symbol indicating the identified row or column.

7. A method for facilitating analysis of data in a multi-dimensional data model stored in a computer system comprising the following steps executed by the computer system:

displaying a view of the data model on a computer screen, the view having data arranged in rows and columns;

displaying a calculator icon on the computer screen, the calculator icon including a plurality of button representations each corresponding to a different function that can be applied to the displayed data model and a display area for displaying ones of the functions;

receiving from an input device coupled to the computer screen an indication that one of the button representations has been selected, thereby selecting a function corresponding to the selected button representation;

altering the view of the data model to indicate the rows and columns of the view that are appropriate for the selected function;

receiving from the input device indications of a row or a column of the indicated data model portions to which the selected function is to be applied;

displaying in the display area of the calculator icon an equation defining an application of the selected function to the identified row or column;

applying the selected function to all data in the indicated row or column to produce a set of calculated results; and

displaying the set of calculated results on the computer screen as part of the view of the data model proximate to the indicated row or column.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:

receiving from the input device an indication for a different view of the data model; and

displaying the different view of the data model, including the set of calculated results, on the computer screen.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the computer system includes a main processor coupled to the data model and a local processor coupled to said computer screen and containing a data file including the data displayed in the view, the method including the step of transferring indicated row or column from said main processor to said local processor.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the view includes a plurality of rows and columns each including a header portion and values, the rows and columns being collectively termed display elements, and wherein the step of receiving indications of the row or column includes the substep of:

receiving indications of display elements selected by a user such that all of the selected display elements are either only rows or only columns.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of displaying the set of calculated results includes the substep of displaying the set of calculated results on a new row or a column in the view, wherein said new row or column includes a header.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein one of the plurality of button representations included in the calculator icon is a button representation indicating the step of changing the calculator icon, further including the steps of:

receiving from the input device data indicating that the button representation indicating an action of changing the calculator icon has been selected, thereby selecting a function of changing the calculator icon;

displaying an auxiliary calculator icon in response to the indication to change the calculator icon, the auxiliary calculator icon containing auxiliary button representations each corresponding to a different auxiliary function;

receiving from the input device an indication that one of the auxiliary button representations has been selected, thereby selecting the auxiliary function corresponding to that auxiliary button representation; and

performing the selected auxiliary function corresponding to the selected auxiliary button representation.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the view includes a plurality of rows and columns, each including a header portion and values, the rows and columns being collectively termed display elements, wherein the step of receiving indications of indicated row or column includes the substep of:

receiving indications of display elements selected by a user as either only rows or only columns;

wherein the step of displaying the set of calculated results include the substep of;

displaying the set of calculated results as a view display element; and

wherein the step of performing the selected auxiliary function includes the substeps of;

modifying the header portion of the displayed view display element, and

modifying the display element to reflect the auxiliary function.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein one of the plurality of button representations in the calculator icon is an audit button representation corresponding to an audit function, and wherein the step of applying the selected function includes the substeps of:

applying the audit function to one of the display elements containing calculated values; and

displaying, for the one of the display elements containing calculated values, the equation, including functions and names of data file subportions, used in obtaining the set of calculated results.

15. A data processing system for facilitating analysis of data in a multi-dimensional data model comprising:

first means for displaying on a computer screen a view of the data in the data model, the view having data arranged in rows and columns;

second means for displaying a calculator icon with the view on the first displaying means, the calculator icon including a plurality of button representations each corresponding to a different function to be applied to the data in the data model and a display area for displaying ones of the functions;

means, coupled to the second displaying means, for selecting one of said button representations;

means, coupled to said first and second displaying means, for controlling the display means to display a different view of the data model on the display means to indicate rows and columns of the view which are appropriate for the selected function;

means for receiving data identifying a row or a column of the indicated rows and columns to which the selected function is to be applied;

means for displaying in the display area of the calculator icon an equation defining an application of the selected function to the identified row or column;

means for applying the selected function to all data in the identified row or column to produce a set of calculated results; and

means for displaying the set of calculated results on the computer screen as part of the data model proximate to the identified row or column.

16. An apparatus for facilitating analysis of data in a data file stored in a computer system, comprising:

a computer screen;

first means for displaying on the computer screen a view of the data in the data file, the view having data arranged in rows and columns;

second means for displaying a calculator icon on the computer screen the calculator icon including a plurality of button representations each corresponding to a different function that can be applied to portions of the data in the data file and a display area for displaying ones of the functions;

an input device for reading data input by a user;

means for receiving information from the input device identifying a first one of the displayed functions;

means for receiving from the input device information identifying a row or a column of the stored data file to which the first displayed function is to be applied;

means for displaying in the display area of the calculator icon an equation defining an application of the selected function to the identified row or column;

means for applying the first selected function to all data in the identified row or column to produce a set of calculated results;

means for entering the set of calculated results into the data file; and

means for displaying the set of calculated results on the computer screen as part of the view of the data file proximate to the identified row or column.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further including:

means for altering the display data of the data file, after receiving the information identifying the first selected function and before receiving the information identifying the identified row or column, to indicate the portions of the data file which are appropriate for the selected function.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further including:

means for altering the button representations of the plurality of functions, after receiving the information identifying the first selected function and before receiving the information identifying the identified row or column, to indicate additional ones of said functions which are appropriate for application with the selected function.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further including:

means for receiving from the input device information identifying a second selected one of the functions from the ones of the function which are identified as appropriate for application along with the selected function;

means for receiving from the input device information identifying a second row or column of the stored data file to which the second selected function is to be applied; and

means for applying the second selected function to the second identified row or column to alter a storage structure of the data file.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the data file has at least three dimensions, and wherein the apparatus includes:

means for receiving from the input device an indication of a different view of the data file to be added to the data file; and

means, coupled to the receiving means, for displaying the different view of the data file, including the set of calculated results, on the computer screen.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 further including means for displaying, in a portion of the calculator icon, an indication of the selected function to be applied to the identified row or column.

22. An apparatus for facilitating analysis of multi-dimensional data in a multi-dimensional data model stored in a computer system, comprising:

a computer screen;

means for displaying a view of the multi-dimensional data in the data model on the computer screen, the view having data arranged in rows and columns;

means for displaying a calculator icon on the computer screen, the calculator icon including a plurality of button representations each corresponding to a different function that can be applied to the data in the data model and a display area for displaying ones of the functions;

an input device coupled to the computer screen;

means for receiving from the input device an indication that one of the button representations has been selected, thereby selecting the function corresponding to the selected button representation;

means for altering the view of the data model to indicate rows or columns of the view that are appropriate for the selected function;

means for receiving from the input device indications of a row or column of the indicated data model portions to which the selected function is to be applied;

means for displaying in the display area of the calculator icon an equation defining an application of the selected function to the identified row or column;

means for applying the selected function to all the data in the indicated row or column to produce a set of calculated results; and

means for displaying the set of calculated results on the computer screen as part of the view of the data model proximate the indicated row or column.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further including:

means for receiving from the input device an indication of a different view of the data model; and

means for displaying the different view of the data model, including the set of calculated results, on the computer screen.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further including:

a main processor containing the data model;

a local processor coupled to said computer screen and containing a data file including the data displayed in the view; and

means for transferring data from said main processor to said local processor.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for displaying the set of calculated results includes means for displaying the set of calculated results on a new row or a column in the view, wherein said row or column includes a header.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein one of the plurality of button representations included in the calculator icon is a button representation indicating an action of changing the calculator icon, the apparatus further including:

means for receiving from the input device an indication that the button representation indicating the action of changing the calculator icon has been selected, thereby selecting the function of changing the calculator icon;

means for displaying an auxiliary calculator icon in response to the indication to change the calculator icon, the auxiliary calculator icon containing auxiliary button representations each corresponding to a different auxiliary function;

means for receiving from the input device an indication that one of the auxiliary button representations has been selected, thereby selecting the auxiliary function corresponding to that auxiliary button representation; and

means for performing the selected auxiliary function corresponding to the selected auxiliary button representation.

27. The apparatus of claim 26,

wherein the view includes a plurality of rows and columns, each including a header portion and values, the rows and columns being collectively termed display elements,

wherein the means for receiving indications of indicated row or column includes means for receiving indications of display elements selected by a user as either only rows or only columns,

wherein the means for displaying the set of calculated results includes means for displaying the set of calculated results as a view display element, and

wherein the means for performing the selected auxiliary function includes means for modifying the header portion of the displayed view display element and means for modifying the display element to reflect the auxiliary function.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein one of the plurality of button representations in the calculator icon is an audit button representation corresponding to an audit function, and wherein the means for applying the selected function includes:

means for applying the audit function to one of the display elements containing calculated values; and

means for displaying, for the one of the display elements containing calculated values, the equation, including functions and names of data file subportions, used in obtaining the set of calculated results.