System and method for grouping data

• US 7,685,510 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Sauermann, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Cong-Lac
• Application Number:
  US11/022,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20060143563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 715/509, 715/212, 715/510, 715/227, 715/228
• US Class Current: 715/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates

Abstract

In a system and method for grouping data, a processor may, with reference to metadata identifying relationships between sets of data to be displayed in columns of a table, generate a display template from the identified relationships, the template defining that related columns of data are presented adjacent to each other in groups and defining which types of graphical demarcations to display, may search among records corresponding to rows of the table to be displayed for records that satisfy a search criterion, and may display a table according to the display template, rows of the table arranged to display the records that satisfy the search criteria in a group separate from the other records.

Claims

1. A data display method of a data characterization display machine, comprising:

for each of a plurality of datasets to be displayed, assigning to the dataset, by a processor of the data characterization display machine, one of four metadata values, and assigning the dataset to a main category, wherein datasets identified by metadata as being related to each other are assigned to a same main category;

displaying, by the processor, the datasets, such that datasets assigned to a same main category are displayed adjacent to each other;

for each of the datasets;

for each of two sides of the dataset, determining, by the processor, which one of two graphical demarcations to display, the determination being made based on which of the four metadata values has been assigned to the dataset; and

displaying, by the processor, the graphical demarcations;

wherein the four metadata values include;

(1) a first metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is at a first end of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned, (2) a second metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is at a second end of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned, (3) a third metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is not at an end of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned, and (4) a fourth metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is an only dataset of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned.

2. The data display method of claim 1, wherein:

each of the datasets is displayed in a respective column of a table; and

each column corresponds to a respective subcategory of a respective main category.

3. The data display method of claim 1, wherein:

between a pair of adjacent ones of the datasets that are assigned to a same main category, a first one of the two graphical demarcations is displayed; and

between a pair of adjacent ones of the datasets that are assigned to different main categories, a second one of the two graphical demarcations is displayed.

4. A data display method of a data characterization display machine, comprising:

for each of a plurality of columns of fields of data to be displayed, assigning to the column, by a processor of the data characterization display machine, one of four metadata values, and assigning the column to a column-group, wherein columns identified by metadata as being related to each other are assigned to a same column-group;

displaying, by the processor, the columns, such that columns assigned to a same column-group are displayed adjacent to each other;

for each of the columns;

for each of a right side and a left side of the column, determining, by the processor, which one of two graphical demarcations to display, the determination being made based on which of the four metadata values has been assigned to the column; and

displaying, by the processor, the graphical demarcations;

wherein the four metadata values includes;

(1) a first metadata value indicating that a column to which it is assigned is at left-most position of the column-group to which the column has been assigned, (2) a second metadata value indicating that a column to which it is assigned is at a right-most position of the column-group to which the column has been assigned, (3) a third metadata value indicating that a column to which it is assigned is not at an edge of the column-group to which the column has been assigned, and (4) a fourth metadata value indicating that a column to which it is assigned is an only column of the column-group to which the column has been assigned.

5. A data display method of a data characterization display machine, comprising:

for each of a plurality of datasets to be displayed, assigning to the dataset, by a processor of the data characterization display machine, at least one of three metadata values, and assigning the dataset to a main category, wherein datasets identified by metadata as being related to each other are assigned to a same main category;

displaying, by the processor, the datasets, such that datasets assigned a same main category are displayed adjacent to each other;

for each of the datasets;

for each of two sides of the dataset, determining, by the processor, which one of two graphical demarcations to display, the determination being made based on which of the three metadata values has been assigned to the dataset; and

displaying, by the processor, the graphical demarcations;

wherein the three metadata values include;

(1) a first metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is at a first end of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned, (2) a second metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is at a second end of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned, and (3) a third metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is not at an end of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned.