Apparatus and method to automate data entry into an application program
First Claim
1. In a computer system, apparatus for automatically inputting desired data into an application program by extracting the desired data from a data source in the computer system and printing it out from the computer system in a visible format comprising:
- means for storing said data source as an index list of predefined strings in a memory area of said computer system;
means for converting said data source into said visible format as a visible listing of items with each item in said listing of items corresponding to a predefined string in said index list wherein said visible listing of items is separate from said computer system;
means for selecting one of said items in said visible listing, and identifying a corresponding predefined string in said index list; and
means for inputting the corresponding string into a specified application program.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for transferring desired data from an existing data source in a computer system to an application program. The existing data source is first converted into visibly formatted data output which is at a location separate from the computer system. The desired data is then selected from the visible format. The desired data is able to be transferred into the application program merely in response to the selection from the visibly formatted data without using of a keyboard.
48 Citations
35 Claims
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1. In a computer system, apparatus for automatically inputting desired data into an application program by extracting the desired data from a data source in the computer system and printing it out from the computer system in a visible format comprising:
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means for storing said data source as an index list of predefined strings in a memory area of said computer system; means for converting said data source into said visible format as a visible listing of items with each item in said listing of items corresponding to a predefined string in said index list wherein said visible listing of items is separate from said computer system; means for selecting one of said items in said visible listing, and identifying a corresponding predefined string in said index list; and means for inputting the corresponding string into a specified application program.
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2. In a computer data processing system, an apparatus for automatically inputting desired data into an application program by extracting the desired data from a data source in the computer data processing system and printing it out from the computer data processing system in a visible format comprising:
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means for storing said data source as an index list of predefined strings in a memory area internal of said data processing computer system; means for converting said data source into said visible format as a printed list of items with each item in said printed list of items corresponding to a predefined string in said index list wherein said printed list of items is separate from computer data processing system; means for selecting one of said items in said printed list; and means for inputting a corresponding predefined string into a specified application program for data processing. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a computer data processing system, a method for automatically imputing desired data into an application program by extracting the desired data from a data source in the computer data processing system and printing it out from the computer data processing system in a visible format, comprising the steps of:
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storing said data source as an index list of predefined strings in a memory area internal said computer data processing system; converting said data source into said visible format as a printed list of items with each item in said printed list of items corresponding to a predefined string in said index list wherein said printed list of items is separate from said computer data processing system; selecting one of said items in said printed list, and identifying a corresponding string in said index list; and inputting the corresponding string into a specified application program for data processing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a computer system, an apparatus for automatically transferring desired data from a data source into an application program, the data source having been generated by an application program such as Dbase, Lotus or word processor in the computer system, said apparatus comprising:
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means for converting said data source into visible formatted data at a location separate from said computer system, said visible formatted data having location parameters to identify locations of said visible formatted data; means for selecting data from said visible formatted data at said location separate from said computer system; and means for extracting said data in response to selections of said data selecting means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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18. In a computer system, an apparatus for automatically transferring desired data from a data source into an application program, the data source having been generated by an application program such as Dbase, Lotus or work processor in the computer system, said apparatus comprising:
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means for generating program macros at a location separate from said computer system, said program macros defining data processing operations of said application program; means for selecting said program macros at said location separate from said computer system; and means for activating said data processing operations of said application program in response to selections of said program macros selecting means. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. In a computer system, a method for automatically transferring desired data from a data source into an application program, the data source have been generated by an application program such as Dbase, Lotus or word processor in the computer system, comprising:
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converting said data source into a visible formatted data at a location separate from said computer system, said visible formatted data having location parameters to identify locations of said visible formatted data; selecting data from said visible formatted data at said location separate from said computer system; and extracting the selected data.
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32. In a computer system, a method for automatically transferring desired data from a data source into an application program, the data source have been generated by an application program such as Dbase, Lotus or word processor in the computer system, said method comprising:
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converting said data source into a visible formatted data at a location separate from said computer system, said visible formatted data having location parameters to identify locations of said visible formatted data; generating program macros at said location separate from said computer system, said program macros defining data processing operations of said application program; selecting data from said visible formatted data at said location separate from said computer system; and selecting said program macros at said location separate from said computer system; and activating said data processing operations of said application programs in response to the selected data and the selected program macros. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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33. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of:
buffering said program macros after said program macros are selected.
Specification