Method for visually mapping data between different record formats

• US 6,154,748 A
• Filed: 04/07/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sherfy, Sarah F., Gupta, Sundeep K., Parker, Tamarah K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US09/055,695
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 707/523, 707/4, 707/1, 707/101, 707/505, 707/540, 707/203, 707/22, 707/28, 707/102, 395/705, 345/335, 709/253
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A computer system, computer program product, and method for visually mapping data between different record formats provides for the mapping of source data fields of a dump file to the target data format fields of a digital library using an interactive mapping section output map. The output map includes a grid with cells to indicate crossings between the source data fields and the target data format fields, and the user indicates such crossings without resort to a custom applications loader thus providing dynamic data mapping at execution time.

Claims

1. A method of visually mapping data of different record formats, comprising:

dumping source data in a source data format to provide a dump file of records each having a number of fields;

parsing said dump file to provide a parse signal indicating said number of fields;

determining, for a target data format, a set of target data format fields;

generating a grid comprising cells each arranged with respect to a first direction and a second direction, said second direction being orthogonal to said first direction, said grid including first field names arranged along said first direction and second field names arranged along said second direction, wherein;

said first field names are based on said number of fields indicated by said parse signal; and

said second field names are based on said set of target data format fields;

indicating in said cells crossings between said first field names and said second field names; and

mapping said fields of said records of said dump file to said target data format fields based on said crossings.

2. The method of visually mapping data of different record formats as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting said target data format from a plurality of target data formats; and

reading, from a digital library, said plurality of target data formats.

3. The method of visually mapping data of different record formats as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said generating of said grid being performed as to appear on a visual display unit.

4. A computer system for visually mapping data of different record formats, comprising:

a processor, and

a memory including software instructions adapted to enable the computer system to perform the steps of;

dumping source data in a source data format to provide a dump file of records each having a number of fields;

parsing said dump file to provide a parse signal indicating said number of fields;

determining, for a target data format, a set of target data format fields;

generating a grid comprising cells each arranged with respect to a first direction and a second direction, said second direction being orthogonal to said first direction, said grid including first field names arranged along said first direction and second field names arranged along said second direction, wherein;

said first field names are based on said number of fields indicated by said parse signal; and

said second field names are based on said set of target data format fields;

allowing a user to indicate in said cells crossings between said first field names and said second field names; and

mapping said fields of said records of said dump file to said target data format fields based on said crossings.

5. The computer system for visually mapping data of different record formats as set forth in claim 4, wherein said memory further comprises software instructions adapted to enable said computer system to perform the steps of:

allowing a user to select said target data format from a plurality of target data formats; and

reading, from a digital library, said plurality of target data formats.

6. The computer system for visually mapping data of different record formats as set forth in claim 4, wherein said memory further comprises software instructions adapted to enable said computer system to perform said generating of said grid so as to appear on a visual display unit.

7. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide visual mapping data of different record formats, comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations, and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations including the steps of;

dumping source data in a source data format to provide a dump file of records each having a number of fields;

parsing said dump file to provide a parse signal indicating said number of fields;

determining, for a target data format, a set of target data format fields;

generating a grid comprising cells each arranged with respect to a first direction and a second direction, said second direction being orthogonal to said first direction, said grid including first field names arranged along said first direction and second field names arranged along said second direction, wherein;

said first field names are based on said number of fields indicated by said parse signal; and

said second field names are based on said set of target data format fields;

indicating in said cells crossings between said first field names and said second field names; and

allowing a user to map said fields of said records of said dump file to said target data format fields based on said crossings.

8. The computer program product for enabling a computer to provide visual mapping data of different record formats, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said predetermined operations further comprise:

allowing a user to select said target data format from a plurality of target data formats; and

reading, from a digital library, said plurality of target data formats.

9. The computer program product for enabling a computer to provide visual mapping data of different record formats, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said predetermined operations further comprise generating said grid so as to appear on a visual display unit.