Data item display method and device, and recording medium storing a program for controlling display of data item

• US 6,353,452 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ogura, Takashi, Logie, Robert, Hamada, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joseph, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US09/175,511
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/160, 345/348, 345/349, 345/354, 345/352, 345/968, 345/967, 345/780, 345/825, 345/826, 345/812, 345/813, 345/822, 345/824, 707/347, 707/4
• US Class Current: 715/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

In order to make sure that a user does not attempt to build an invalid database query in which tables are incorrectly joined on fields that cannot be joined due to an incompatibility of data types, after the user selects a source data field the incompatible target data fields which cannot be joined with the selected source data field are determined automatically and displayed distinctly differently in a target list box of possible target data field names, such as in a different color.

Claims

1. A computer assisted method of forming a database query statement, the query statement including a joining of a source data table having a plurality of source data fields represented by corresponding source data field names with a target data table having a plurality of target data fields represented by corresponding target data field names, comprising the steps of:

displaying a source list box containing a list of at least some of said source data field names and a target list box containing a list of at least some of said target data field names;

pointing by an operator to a source data field name displayed in the source list box to select the corresponding source data field of the source data table for possible joining;

automatically determining which of the target data fields having corresponding target data field names displayed in the target list box cannot be joined with the selected source data field of the source data table;

automatically indicating the target data field names of target data fields which cannot be properly joined with the selected source data field by distinctly displaying said indicated target data field names differently in the target list box than the target data field names of target data fields which can be joined with the selected source data field,

whereby the operator may select from among the target data field names in the target list box that are not distinctively displayed to select a proper target data field for joining with the selected source data field in forming a query statement.

2. Apparatus for assisting an operator in forming a database query statement, the query statement including a joining of a source data table having a plurality of source data fields represented by corresponding source data field names with a target data table having a plurality of target data fields represented by corresponding target data field names, comprising:

a display for displaying a source list box containing a list of at least some of said source data field names and a target list box containing a list of at least some of said target data field names;

a pointing device for pointing by the operator to a source data field name displayed in the source list box to select the corresponding source data field of the source data table for possible joining;

a target list box control for automatically determining which of the target data fields having corresponding target data field names displayed in the target list box cannot be joined with the selected source data field of the source data table;

said target list box control automatically controlling said display to indicate the target data field names of target data fields which cannot be properly joined with the selected source data field by distinctly displaying said indicated target data field names differently in the target list box than the target data field names of target data fields which can be joined with the selected source data field,

whereby the operator may select from among the target data field names in the target list box that are not distinctively displayed to select a proper target data field for joining with the selected source data field in forming a query statement.

3. A recording medium storing a program for computer assisting an operator in forming a database query statement, the query statement including a joining of a source data table having a plurality of source data fields represented by corresponding source data field names with a target data table having a plurality of target data fields represented by corresponding target data field names, said program comprising:

program code for displaying a source list box containing a list of at least some of said source data field names and a target list box containing a list of at least some of said target data field names;

program code for allowing an operator to point to a source data field name displayed in the source list box to select the corresponding source data field of the source data table for possible joining;

program code for automatically determining which of the target data fields having corresponding target data field names displayed in the target list box cannot be joined with the selected source data field of the source data table;

program code for automatically indicating the target data field names of target data fields which cannot be properly joined with the selected source data field by distinctly displaying said indicated target data field names differently in the target list box than the target data field names of target data fields which can be joined with the selected source data field,

whereby the operator may select from among the target data field names in the target list box that are not distinctively displayed to select a proper target data field for joining with the selected source data field in forming a query statement.