System, method and computer program product for locally defining related reports using a global definition

• US 9,189,532 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Tobin, Thomas J., Eroshin, Vladislav, Zheng, Zuye, Louie, Patrick, Lu, Jeremiah, Varadharajan, Arunkumaran
• Primary Examiner(s): Saeed, Usmaan
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, CECILE H
• Application Number:
  US13/306,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20130031141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1/1, 707/802, 707/805, 707/752, 707/739, 707/726, 707/722, 707/713, 707/643, 707/602, 707/600, 707/640, 707/635, 707/646, 707/647, 707/679, 707/682, 707/724, 715/229, 715/249, 715/708, 719/331, 709/224, 709/204, 709/206, 709/217, 709/225, 709/203, 709/219, 709/223, 709/229, 709/234, 705/37, 705/2, 705/26.35, 705/30, 705/321, 705/347, 705/7.11, 705/7.29, 705/14.46, 705/14.58, 705/14.64, 705/1.1, 705/26.1, 705/3, 705/320, 705/34, 705/342, 705/36, 705/44, 705/7.12, 705/7.38, 705/7.41, 370/331, 370/217, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for locally defining related reports using a global definition. These mechanisms and methods for locally defining related reports using a global definition can provide a single global definition that is applicable to various reports. The ability to provide such single global definition can enable multiple local definitions that are report specific to be configured, at least in part, using the single global definition.

Claims

1. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to cause a computer to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving by a database system a request for a composite report that is created by aggregating results of a plurality of related reports;

identifying the plurality of related reports within the database system, wherein each of the related reports includes a query for data stored in the database system;

determining, by the database system, a global report definition specific to the requested composite report, the global report definition including a plurality of attributes to be applied during an execution of the composite report, the attributes including filter criteria that are applied to each of the queries for data and a summary that is calculated utilizing at least a portion of the queried data;

replicating, by the databases the attributes of the global report definition from the global report definition to a local report definition of each of the plurality of related reports, such that each local report definition of the plurality of related reports includes the plurality of attributes to be applied during an execution of the related report;

executing, by the database system, each of the related reports, including for each of the related reports, performing the query for data included within the report, applying the filter criteria from the local report definition to the query, and calculating the summary utilizing at least the portion of the queried data according to the local report definition; and

aggregating, by the database system, the results of the execution of the plurality of related reports to form the requested composite report.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein each related report is a joined relationship between a different table and a common table.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the global report definition is configured for the composite report.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the global report definition is determined to be applicable to all of the related reports by having attributes that are each applicable to all of the related reports.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the attributes of the global report definition are each applicable to all of the related reports by each attribute being applicable to a column of each of the related reports.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the attributes of the global definition include at least one grouping.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein each local report definition includes local attributes specific to the associated report in addition to the attributes of the global report definition stored in the local report definition.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein replicating the attributes of the global report definition to each local report definition further includes:

translating each attribute to indicate an identifier of a column of the related report associated with the local report definition; and

storing in the local report definition the translated attribute indicating the identifier of the column of the related report associated with the local report definition.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein mapping is performed using a table correlating an identifier of a column indicated by the attribute of the global report definition with the identifier of the column of the report associated with the local report definition.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the translated attribute includes a grouping, and the translated attribute is stored in the local report definition by being prepended to content of the local report definition.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the filter criteria is stored in the local report definition by being appended to content of the local report definition.

12. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the attributes of the global report definition are replicated to the local report definition of each associated report at runtime of the execution of the related reports.

13. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the global report definition and the local report definitions are user-defined.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving by a database system a request for a composite report that is created by aggregating results of a plurality of related reports;

identifying the plurality of related reports within the database system, wherein each of the related reports includes a query for data stored in the database system;

determining, by the database system, a global report definition specific to the requested composite report, the global report definition including a plurality of attributes to be applied during an execution of the composite report, the attributes including filter criteria that are applied to each of the queries for data and a summary that is calculated utilizing at least a portion of the queried data;

replicating, by the database system, each of the plurality of the attributes of the global report definition from the global report definition to a local report definition of each of the plurality of related reports, such that each local report definition of the plurality of related reports includes the plurality of attributes to be applied during an execution of the related report;

executing, by the database system, each of the related reports, including for each of the related reports, performing the query for data included within the report, applying the filter criteria from the local report definition to the query, and calculating the summary utilizing at least the portion of the queried data according to the local report definition; and

aggregating, by the database system, the results of the execution of the plurality of related reports to form the requested composite report.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a database system including a hardware processor for;

receiving by the database system a request for a composite report that is created by aggregating results of a plurality of related reports;

identifying the plurality of related reports within the database system, wherein each of the related reports includes a query for data stored in the database system;

determining, by the database system, a global report definition specific to the requested composite report, the global report definition including a plurality of attributes to be applied during an execution of the composite report, the attributes including filter criteria that are applied to each of the queries for data and a summary that is calculated utilizing at least a portion of the queried data;

replicating, by the database system, each of the plurality of the attributes of the global report definition from the global report definition to a local report definition of each of the plurality of related reports, such that each local report definition of the plurality of related reports includes the plurality of attributes to be applied during an execution of the related report;

executing, by the database system, each of the related reports, including for each of the related reports, performing the query for data included within the report, applying the filter criteria from the local report definition to the query, and calculating the summary utilizing at least the portion of the queried data according to the local report definition; and

aggregating, by the database system, the results of the execution of the plurality of related reports to form the requested composite report.