Cogeneration of Database Applications and Their Databases

• US 20110307519A1
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Danton, Stephen Michael, Avital, Noaa, Ardila, Pedro, Millet, Stephen J., Justice, John R., Zinda, Eric Kenneth, Anderson, Christopher L., Payzer, Gersh
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/792
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application

Abstract

User experience in a designer tool manages cogeneration of a database application and a database accessible through the application. A user places a visual representation of an application element designed to control a relational or hierarchical dataset. Code is automatically called to add the application element to the application, and automatically invoked to create database schema elements designed to implement the dataset in the database under application element control. Users verify that an application element has been automatically added, and confirm that database schema elements implementing the dataset(s) under control of the application element have been automatically created. A tutorial illustrates a workflow utilizing a designer tool to cogenerate a database application and a database without a data design step. A wizard utilizes the designer tool to cogenerate a database application and a database that collectively implement a calendar, a diagram, a tree, a wiki, and/or a list.

Claims

1. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium configured with data and with instructions that when executed by at least one processor causes the processor(s) to perform a process for cogenerating a database application and a database accessible through the database application, the process comprising the steps of:

receiving in a user interface a user gesture to place a visual representation of an application element that is designed to control at least one of the following datasets;

a relational dataset, a hierarchical dataset;

automatically calling code to add the application element to the database application in response to the user gesture; and

automatically invoking code to create at least one database schema element that is designed to implement in the database the dataset(s) under control of the application element.

2. The configured medium of claim 1, wherein the visual representation represents a calendar, the calling step automatically calls code to add a calendar user interface to the database application, and the invoking step automatically invokes code to create calendar database schema elements designed to implement a calendar relational dataset under control of the calendar user interface.

3. The configured medium of claim 1, wherein the visual representation represents a diagram, the calling step automatically calls code to add a diagram user interface to the database application, and the invoking step automatically invokes code to create diagram database schema elements designed to implement a diagram relational dataset under control of the diagram user interface.

4. The configured medium of claim 1, wherein the visual representation represents a tree, the calling step automatically calls code to add a tree user interface to the database application, and the invoking step automatically invokes code to create tree database schema elements designed to implement a tree hierarchical dataset under control of the tree user interface.

5. The configured medium of claim 1, wherein the visual representation represents a wiki, the calling step automatically calls code to add a wiki user interface to the database application, and the invoking step automatically invokes code to create wiki database schema elements designed to implement at least one of the following under control of the wiki user interface:

a tree hierarchical dataset, a tree relational dataset.

6. The configured medium of claim 1, wherein the visual representation represents a list, the calling step automatically calls code to add a list user interface to the database application, and the invoking step automatically invokes code to create list database schema elements designed to implement a list relational dataset under control of the list user interface.

7. The configured medium of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises displaying automatically generated SQL code.

8. A process for cogenerating a database application and a database accessible through the database application, the process utilizing a client device which has at least one logical processor in operable communication with at least one memory, the process comprising the steps of:

placing in a user interface a visual representation of an application element that is designed to control at least one of the following datasets;

a relational dataset, a hierarchical dataset;

verifying that the application element has been automatically added to the database application in response to the placing step; and

confirming that database schema elements implementing the dataset(s) under control of the application element have been automatically created in the database in response to the placing step.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the verifying step comprises executing the database application without previously manually entering code to add the application element to the database application.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein the verifying step comprises visually inspecting automatically generated code of the database application.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein the confirming step comprises executing the database application without previously manually entering code to create the database schema elements implementing the dataset(s).

12. The process of claim 8, wherein the confirming step comprises visually inspecting code which implements automatically generated database schema elements.

13. The process of claim 8, wherein the placing step places a visual representation of a calendar, the verifying step verifies that a calendar user interface has been added to the database application, and the confirming step confirms that calendar database schema elements under control of the calendar user interface have been implemented in the database.

14. The process of claim 8, wherein the placing step places a visual representation of a diagram, the verifying step verifies that a diagram user interface has been added to the database application, and the confirming step confirms that diagram database schema elements under control of the diagram user interface have been implemented in the database.

15. The process of claim 8, wherein the placing step places a visual representation of a tree, the verifying step verifies that a tree user interface has been added to the database application, and the confirming step confirms that tree database schema elements under control of the tree user interface have been implemented in the database.

16. The process of claim 8, wherein the placing step places a visual representation of a wiki, the verifying step verifies that a wiki user interface has been added to the database application, and the confirming step confirms that wiki database schema elements under control of the wiki user interface have been implemented in the database.

17. The process of claim 8, wherein the placing step places a visual representation of a list, the verifying step verifies that a list user interface has been added to the database application, and the confirming step confirms that list database schema elements under control of the list user interface have been implemented in the database.

18. A computer system comprising:

at least one logical processor;

a memory in operable communication with the logical processor(s);

a designer tool residing in the memory and operable to do the following;

receive in a user interface a user gesture to place a visual representation of an application element that is designed to control at least one of the following datasets;

a relational dataset, a hierarchical dataset;

automatically call code to add the application element to the database application in response to the user gesture; and

automatically invoke code to create at least one database schema element that is designed to implement in the database the dataset(s) under control of the application element.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a tutorial residing in the memory and operable to illustrate a workflow utilizing the designer tool to cogenerate a database application and a database without a data design step.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a wizard residing in the memory and operable to utilize the designer tool to cogenerate a database application and a database which collectively implement at least one of the following:

a calendar, a diagram, a tree, a wiki, a list.