Report generator for use within a lotus notes database system

• US 6,233,583 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hoth, Robert Aloise
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US09/151,088
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/207, 707/102, 707/7
• US Class Current: 707/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A computer program product is provided that facilitates report generation within a Lotus Notes database system by providing a user interface which allows a general user with no knowledge of the database system and with no knowledge of Lotus Notes query syntax or Script Code to generate customized reports. The program product includes an Initialization Table and a Report Template on which an administrative user enters information (e.g., database name, database location, searchable field information, information to be retrieved and information to be displayed) specific to the database system to be searched. Thereafter, based on the user provided information within the Initialization Table and the Report Template a user interface displays a number of search options (e.g., databases to search, searchable field information and Report Templates from which to select). A general user selects among the displayed options and the program product generates a query string, searches the selected databases based on the query string, and organizes and displays the collected information. The Initialization Table and the Report Templates can be altered to reflect changes in the database system, and the program product dynamically incorporates the changes; no new Lotus Notes Script Code need be written to accommodate changes in the database system.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising:

providing computer program code capable of executing a Lotus Notes search of a plurality of user-selected searchable databases based on a single Lotus Notes query string;

executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names;

collecting information from the one or more identified documents;

organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and

outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

2. The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen;

receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names; and

generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names.

3. The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen comprises displaying a graphical user interface.

4. The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen comprises displaying searchable database names and searchable field names stored in an initialization file saved in a computer-accessible memory, the initialization file comprising a list of searchable fields, a list of searchable databases, and a path to each searchable database.

5. The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen further comprises displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options within each searchable field category, and wherein generating a query string based on the user-selected searchable field names comprises generating a full text query string by:

for each field category having user-selected field category options, ORing each selected or NOT-selected field category option within the field category to form an ORed option set for the field category; and

ANDing each ORed option set.

6. The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases comprises instructing Lotus Notes to execute a full text search using the generated query string.

7. The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein displaying searchable database names and searchable field names further comprises displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options for each searchable field category, and further comprises:

computing a data range for each field category to be displayed;

wherein outputting the organized information further comprises outputting data computed by employing the data ranges.

8. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein collecting information from the identified documents comprises saving the information in a random-access file in a computer-accessible memory.

9. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein outputting the organized information as a report comprises outputting the organized information according to a user-selected report format option.

10. The computer-based method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing a user with a blank report template in which the user specifies fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report;

completing the report template by storing within the blank report template user-specified fields to include in a report and a user-specified arrangement for the fields within the report; and

saving the completed report template as a saved report template.

11. The computer-based method of claim 10 further comprising:

displaying an identifier for each saved report template; and

receiving user selection among the saved report template identifiers; and

wherein outputting the organized information as a report comprises displaying the organized information according to the selected report template.

12. The computer-based method of claim 11 wherein displaying an identifier for each saved report template comprises displaying a graphical user interface.

13. The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein collecting information from the identified documents comprises collecting a retrieved information list comprising a user-specified list of fields of information to retrieve from each identified document, and wherein organizing the collected information comprises:

assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key;

assigning each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and

sorting the keys; and

wherein outputting the organized information as a report further comprises retrieving, via the key pointers, the fields of information from each retrieved information list to include in the report, so as to display, based on the order of the sorted keys, the fields of information from each retrieved information list.

14. The computer-based method of claim 13 further comprising displaying a list of selectable report templates, each selectable report template having a name formed from a combination of a plurality of pre-defined acronyms, and wherein assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key comprises assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key based on the report template'"'"'s name.

15. A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application;

the computer executable instructions comprising;

means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields, the means capable of executing a Lotus Notes search of a plurality of user-selected databases based on a single Lotus Notes query string;

means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents;

means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information; and

means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise:

means for directing the computer to store user-provided database name and location information;

means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields for the named databases;

means for directing the computer to display the user-provided database names and the user-provided searchable fields;

means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed database names and the displayed searchable fields; and

means for directing the computer to generate a query string based on the user-selected searchable fields.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the means for directing the computer to store user-provided database name information and the means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields comprises a lookup table.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the means for directing the computer to display user-provided database names and user-provided searchable fields comprises a graphical user interface.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields further comprises means for storing user-provided searchable field categories and user-provided searchable field category options within each user-provided searchable field category, and wherein the means for directing the computer to generate a query string comprises program code for generating a full text search by, for each field category having a user-selected field category option, ORing each selected or NOT-selected field category option within the field category so as to form an ORed option set for the field category, and ANDing each ORed option set.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the means for directing the computer to search a user-selected database comprises program code for instructing Lotus notes to execute a full text search using the generated query string.

21. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents comprises program code for saving the information in a random-access file in a memory.

22. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise:

means for directing the computer to store a report template comprising a user-provided list of fields to include in a report;

means for directing the computer to store an identifier for each report template;

means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each report template; and

means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed report template identifiers; and

wherein the means for directing the computer to display the organized information as a report comprises means for directing the computer to display the organized information according to the report template identified by the user-selected report template identifier.

23. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents comprises means for collecting a user-provided retrieved information list comprising a user-provided list of fields to retrieve from each identified document, and wherein means for directing the computer to organize the collected information comprises:

means for directing the computer to assign each retrieved information list an identifying key;

means for directing the computer to assign each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and

means for directing the computer to sort the keys; and

wherein the means for directing the computer to display the organized information as a report comprises means for directing the computer to retrieve, via the key pointers, information to be displayed, and to display the retrieved information based on the order of the sorted keys.

24. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise:

means for directing the computer to provide a user with a blank report template which the user completes by specifying fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report;

means for directing a computer to save a completed report template as a saved report template having an identifier;

means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each saved report template; and

means for directing the computer to receive user-selection among the displayed report template identifiers, and

wherein means for directing the computer to organize the collected information comprises;

means for directing the computer to assign information collected from each document an identifying key;

means for directing the computer to assign each key a pointer pointing to the information identified by the key; and

means for directing the computer to sort the keys; and

wherein means for directing the computer to display the organized information as a report comprises retrieving, via the key pointers, only the fields specified in the user-selected report template and displaying the retrieved fields in the order of the sorted keys and with the arrangement of the user-selected report template.

25. A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising:

displaying on a computer screen searchable database names and searchable field names stored in an initialization file saved in a computer-accessible memory, the initialization file comprising a list of searchable fields, a list of searchable databases, and a path to each searchable database;

receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names;

generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names;

executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names;

collecting information from the one or more identified documents;

organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and

outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

26. A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising:

displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen including displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options within each searchable field category;

receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names;

generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names including generating a full text query string by;

for each field category having user-selected field category options, ORing each selected or NOT-selected field category option within the field category to form an ORed option set for the field category; and

ANDing each ORed option set;

executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names;

collecting information from the one or more identified documents;

organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and

outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

27. A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising:

displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen including displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options for each searchable field category, and computing a data range for each field category to be displayed;

receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names;

generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names;

executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names;

collecting information from the one or more identified documents;

organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and

outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report including outputting data computed by employing the data ranges.

28. A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising:

providing a user with a blank report template in which the user specifies fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report;

completing the report template by storing within the blank report template user-specified fields to include in a report and a user-specified arrangement for the fields within the report;

saving the completed report template as a saved report template;

executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names;

collecting information from the one or more identified documents;

organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and

outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report according to a user-selected report format option.

29. The computer-based method of claim 28 further comprising:

displaying an identifier for each saved report template; and

receiving user selection among the saved report template identifiers; and

wherein outputting the organized information as a report comprises displaying the organized information according to the selected report template.

30. The computer-based method of claim 29 wherein displaying an identifier for each saved report template comprises displaying a graphical user interface.

31. A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising:

executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names;

collecting information from the one or more identified documents by collecting a retrieved information list comprising a user-specified list of fields of information to retrieve from each identified document;

organizing at least a portion of the collected information by;

assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key;

assigning each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and

sorting the keys; and

outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report by retrieving, via the key pointers, the fields of information from each retrieved information list to include in the report, so as to display, based on the order of the sorted keys, the fields of information from each retrieved information list.

32. The computer-based method of claim 31 further comprising displaying a list of selectable report templates, each selectable report template having a name formed from a combination of a plurality of pre-defined acronyms, and wherein assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key comprises assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key based on the report template'"'"'s name.

33. A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application;

the computer executable instructions comprising;

means for directing the computer to store user-provided database name and location information;

means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields for the named databases;

means for directing the computer to display the user-provided database names and the user-provided searchable fields;

means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed database names and the displayed searchable fields;

means for directing the computer to generate a query string based on the user-selected searchable fields;

means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields;

means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents;

means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information; and

means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

34. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the means for directing the computer to store user-provided database name information and the means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields comprises a lookup table.

35. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the means for directing the computer to display user-provided database names and user-provided searchable fields comprises a graphical user interface.

36. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields further comprises means for storing user-provided searchable field categories and user-provided searchable field category options within each user-provided searchable field category, and wherein the means for directing the computer to generate a query string comprises program code for generating a full text search by, for each field category having a user-selected field category option, ORing each selected or NOT-selected field category option within the field category so as to form an ORed option set for the field category, and ANDing each ORed option set.

37. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the means for directing the computer to search a user-selected database comprises program code for instructing Lotus notes to execute a full text search using the generated query string.

38. A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application;

the computer executable instructions comprising;

means for directing the computer to store a report template comprising a user-provided list of fields to include in a report;

means for directing the computer to store an identifier for each report template;

means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each report template;

means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed report template identifiers;

means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields;

means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents;

means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information; and

means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report by displaying the organized information according to the report template identified by the user-selected report template identifier.

39. A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application;

the computer executable instructions comprising;

means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields;

means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents by collecting a user-provided retrieved information list comprising a user-provided list of fields to retrieve from each identified document;

means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information by;

assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key;

assigning each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and

sorting the keys; and

means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report by retrieving, via the key pointers, information to be displayed, and displaying the retrieved information based on the order of the sorted keys.

40. A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application;

the computer executable instructions comprising;

means for directing the computer to provide a user with a blank report template which the user completes by specifying fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report;

means for directing a computer to save a completed report template as a saved report template having an identifier;

means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each saved report template;

means for directing the computer to receive user-selection among the displayed report template identifiers;

means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields;

means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents;

means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information by;

assigning information collected from each document an identifying key;

assigning each key a pointer pointing to the information identified by the key; and

sorting the keys; and

means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report by retrieving, via the key pointers, only the fields specified in the user-selected report template and displaying the retrieved fields in the order of the sorted keys and with the arrangement of the user-selected report template.

41. A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising:

executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names;

collecting information from the one or more identified documents by saving the information in a random-access file in a computer-accessible memory;

organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and

outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

42. A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising:

executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names;

collecting information from the one or more identified documents;

organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and

outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report according to a user-selected report format option.