Method and apparatus for displaying a dialog box enabling user selections from a database
First Claim
1. A method of creating a query for accessing a database by a user using a graphical user interface at a workstation in a data processing system, comprising:
- selecting a column entry in said database by said user using a pointer device;
automatically transferring said column entry from said database into a dialog box representing a first field in a predicate in said graphical interface;
providing a comparison operator having a plurality of values in said graphical user interface and selecting one of said values by said user using said pointer device; and
inputting a second column entry from said database into a second field in said dialog box in said graphical user interface by dragging said second column entry from said database to complete said predicate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system and program for providing a graphical interface for a database are accomplished by the operation of a process in the memory of a processor. A selected entry in the database is dynamically used as input to a conditional definition dialog box. The definition of individual conditions, the definition of the relationship of conditions to the selected entries, the editing of conditions, and the editing of the relationship of conditions is simplified and rendered dynamic and interactive for the user thereby facilitating the completion of the task being performed. The user need not remember the related column information for a specified predicate because the system will provide that information simultaneously with the conditional definition in a form that supports the direct manipulation of the related information. The selected entries and their relationship are displayed simultaneously with the definition activities for both the initial definition and any subsequent editing activities. The user may select this information and drag it to the desired location to proceed on the desired activity.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of creating a query for accessing a database by a user using a graphical user interface at a workstation in a data processing system, comprising:
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selecting a column entry in said database by said user using a pointer device; automatically transferring said column entry from said database into a dialog box representing a first field in a predicate in said graphical interface; providing a comparison operator having a plurality of values in said graphical user interface and selecting one of said values by said user using said pointer device; and inputting a second column entry from said database into a second field in said dialog box in said graphical user interface by dragging said second column entry from said database to complete said predicate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product for creating a query for accessing a database by a user using a graphical user interface at a workstation in a data processing system, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for selecting a column entry in said database by said user using a pointer device; computer readable program code means for automatically transferring said column entry from said database into a dialog box representing a first field in a predicate in said graphical interface; computer readable program code means for providing a comparison operator having a plurality of values in said graphical user interface and selecting one of said values by said user using said pointer device; and computer readable program code means for inputting a second column entry from said database into a second field in said dialog box in said graphical user interface by dragging said second column entry from said database to complete said predicate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification