Third-party customization of a configuration file

• US 7,904,899 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Pfeiffer, Jefrey Owen, Robalewski, Randy, Rainwater, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYIM, SAMUEL E
• Application Number:
  US11/471,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20070294669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

Systems and methods for customizing a configuration file. A system includes a configuror client that generates and exports a configuration file, a configuration sharing server that makes the configuration file assessable, and a configuree client that imports the configuration file. The configuration sharing server provides a community-based collection of configuration files for access by the public or by a specific organization. The configuree client can detect when a new profile is being used (e.g., the first time that the financial management application is executed after installation). In response, the configuration client begins an interview process for customizing the financial management application (e.g., by presenting a series of user interfaces). Part of the interview process allows an end-user to select a particular configuration file stored on the configuration sharing client or on a local memory device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for customizing a configuration file, the method comprising:

generating an industry-specific configuration file by a first financial management application executing on a configuror client associated with a first user;

sending the generated industry-specific configuration file to a configuration file repository executing on a configuration sharing server, wherein the configuration file repository comprises a plurality of industry-specific configuration files;

detecting execution of a new profile on a second financial management application executing on a configuree client associated with a second user, wherein the execution of the new profile triggers a configuration script that is configured to receive user settings for the new profile;

selecting, in response to the detecting step, the generated industry-specific configuration file from the configuration file repository;

retrieving, in response to the selecting step and by executing the configuration script, the generated industry-specific configuration file from the configuration file repository; and

configuring, by executing the configuration script, the second financial management application using the generated industry-specific configuration file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file is selected prior to executing the configuration script, and wherein the configuration script is configured in accordance with the generated industry-specific configuration file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file data comprises business rules that affects data processing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file comprises a chart of accounts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file is associated with an organization, and the second user is a member of the organization.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the with first user is an accountant, and the second user is a client of the accountant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file comprises at least one of a command, a value, and an executable.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting, by executing the configuration script, the user settings to supplement default settings of the generated industry-specific configuration file, wherein configuring the second financial management application using the generated industry-specific configuration file includes storing results of the user settings and the default settings.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration script comprises one or more user interfaces to enter settings for the second financial management application.

10. A system for customizing a configuration file, comprising:

a configuror client associated with a first user and for executing a first financial management application configured to;

generate an industry-specific configuration file; and

send the generated industry-specific configuration file to a configuration file repository;

a configuration sharing server comprising the configuration file repository, wherein the configuration file repository comprises a plurality of industry specific configuration files; and

a configuree client associated with a second user and for executing;

a second financial management application configured, to;

detect an execution of a new profile,

wherein the execution of the new profile triggers a configuration script configured to receive user settings for the new profile; and

the configuration script configured to;

retrieve the industry-specific configuration file from the configuration file repository; and

configure the second financial management application using the industry-specific configuration file.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file is selected prior to executing the configuration script, and wherein the configuration script is configured in accordance with the generated industry-specific configuration file.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file comprises a chart of accounts.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file data comprises business rules that affects data processing.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file is associated with an organization, and the second user is a member of the organization.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first user is an accountant, and the second user is a client of the accountant.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file comprises at least one of a command, a value, and an executable.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the configuration script requests the user settings to supplement default settings of the generated industry-specific configuration file, wherein configuring the second financial management application using the industry-specific configuration file includes storing the user settings and the default settings.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the configuration script uses one or more user interfaces to obtain settings for the generated industry-specific configuration file.

19. A, server for sharing a plurality of configuration files, the server comprising:

a network module to receive the plurality of configuration files from a plurality of clients that are coupled in communication through a network, each configuration file being set up to customize user settings of a profile of an application during an initial execution, the network module storing the plurality of configuration files in a configuration file repository; and

a client interface to share the plurality of configuration files with one or more of the plurality of clients, and send a configuration file responsive to a selection of the configuration file,

wherein the plurality of clients comprises;

a configuror client associated with a first user and for executing a first financial management application configured to;

generate the configuration file; and

send the configuration file to the network module for storing in the configuration file repository; and

a configuree client associated with a second user and for executing

a second financial management application configured to;

detect an execution of a new profile, wherein the execution of the new profile triggers a configuration script configured to receive user settings for the new profile; and

the configuration script configured to;

retrieve the configuration file from the configuration file repository via the client interface; and

configure the second financial management application using the configuration file.

20. The server of claim 19, wherein the configuration file comprises a chart of accounts.

21. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program product configured to perform a method for customizing a configuration file, the method comprising:

generating an industry-specific configuration file by a first financial management application executing on a configuror client associated with a first user;

sending the generated industry-specific configuration file to a configuration file repository executing on a configuration sharing server, wherein the configuration file repository comprises a plurality of industry-specific configuration files;

detecting execution of a new profile on a second financial management application executing on a configuree client associated with a second user, wherein the execution of the new profile triggers a configuration script that is configured to receive user settings for the new profile;

selecting, in response to the detecting step, the generated industry-specific configuration file from the configuration file repository;

retrieving, in response to the selecting step and by executing the configuration script, the generated industry-specific configuration file from the configuration file repository; and

configuring, by executing the configuration script, the second financial management application using the generated industry-specific configuration file.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file is selected prior to executing the configuration script, and wherein the configuration script is configured in accordance with the generated industry-specific configuration file.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file data comprises business rules that affects data processing.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file comprises a chart of accounts.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file is associated with, an organization, and the second user is a member of the organization.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the first user is an accountant, and the second user is a client of the accountant.

27. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the generated industry-specific configuration file comprises at least one of a command, a value, and an executable.

28. The computer program product of claim 21, further comprising:

requesting, by executing the configuration script, the user settings to supplement default settings of the generated industry-specific configuration file, wherein configuring the second financial management application using the generated industry-specific configuration file includes storing results of the user settings and the default settings.

29. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the configuration script comprises one or more user interfaces to enter settings for the second financial management application.