Bean generated SQL for back-end management and configuration

• US 6,920,449 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Phillips, Brent Russel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford W.
• Application Number:
  US10/165,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 3, 707/103, 709200-203, 717/100, 717/114, 717/120
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A Configuration Application running on a server that responds to a web client is disclosed. The Configuration Application has a Bean Configuration Utility, a Program Bean and one or more SectionBeans within the Program Bean. The Configuration Application has a graphical user interface for the user to select tables, join tables, select columns, review a conditional SQL statement at the graphical user interface, and save the SQL statement. Using the graphical user interface, the user at the client computer can manipulate the Program Bean to return custom fields from the database without a change to the running application itself. The Program Bean is serializable and can be saved to a file, database, or it can be sent through a network socket (TCP/IP).

Claims

1. A computer implemented process to return a custom field from a back end storage comprising:

at a client computer, using a graphical user interface to provide a user input;

at a server computer, responsive to receiving the user input at a configuration application, generating a structured query language statement and storing the structured query language statement in a section bean, serializing the section bean, and responsive to receiving a request for the custom field from a web-based application, loading a program bean containing the serialized section bean and returning the custom field to the web-based application so that the custom field is returned without stopping the web-based application to access a property file or to write a code for the structured query language statement.

2. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

in the section bean, storing a plurality of components to create a valid structured query language statement.

3. The computer implemented process of claim 2 wherein the plurality of components further comprises a column information, a table information, a filter information, a table joining information, and a plurality of methods to generate a structured query language statement.

4. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the program bean contains methods to get the section bean and to use the section bean to return a valid structured query language statement.

5. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the configuration application uses a bean configuration utility to create a new section bean.

6. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the configuration application uses a bean configuration utility to configure an existing section bean running on a server.

7. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the configuration program uses a bean configuration utility to configure an existing section bean stored to a file system.

8. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising, using the configuration application, connecting to the back end storage and interrogating the back end storage for a table definition.

9. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising, using the configuration application, loading the section bean with a table column information and a join information.

10. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising, using the configuration application, displaying an available table of the back end storage for the user.

11. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising, using the configuration application, receiving a user table selection.

12. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising, using the configuration application, interrogating a selected table for a column.

13. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the step of serializing the bean is performed responsive to determining that the user has made a valid selection.

14. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising, using the graphical user interface, selecting a table, joining a table, selecting a column, reviewing a conditional structured query language statement, determining if the structured query language statement is valid, and responsive to determining that the structured query language statement is valid, saving the structured query language statement.

15. A programmable apparatus for developing structured query language statements to re-configure a program while the program is running comprising:

programmable hardware comprising;

a server computer;

a client computer;

a relational data base;

a network connecting the server computer, the relational data base, and the client computer;

a configuration application installed on the server computer;

a graphical user interface in the configuration program accessible by a user at the client computer;

wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions to cause the server computer to, responsive to receiving a user input at the configuration application, generate a structured query language statement, store the structured query language statement in a section bean, serialize the section bean, responsive to receiving a request for the custom field from the web-based application, load a program bean containing the serialized section bean, and return the custom field to the web-based application so that the custom field is returned without stopping the web-based application to access a property file or to write a code for the structured query language statement.

16. The programmable apparatus of claim 15 wherein the configuration application further comprises instructions to, using the graphical user interface, select a table, join a table, select a column, review a conditional structured query language statement, determine if the structured query language statement is valid, and responsive to determining that the structured query language statement is valid, save the structured query language statement.

18. The computer readable memory of claim 16 further comprising instructions to display a graphical user interface, and responsive to receiving a user input from the graphical user interface, select a table, join a table, select a column, and save a structured query language statement.

17. A computer readable memory for developing structured query language statements to re-configure a web-based program while the program is running comprising:

a server computer readable storage medium;

a computer program stored in said storage medium;

wherein the storage medium, so configured by said computer program, contains instructions for, responsive to receiving a user input at a configuration application, generating a structured query language statement and storing the structured query language statement in a section bean, serializing the section bean, and responsive to receiving a request for a custom field from a web-based application, loading a program bean containing the serialized section bean and returning the custom field to the web-based application.

19. A computer program product on a computer-readable medium for returning a custom field from a back end storage comprising:

at a server computer, means for receiving a user input; and

responsive to receiving the user input, means for generating a structured query language statement;

means for storing the structured query language statement in a section bean;

means for serializing the section bean;

responsive to receiving a request for the custom field from the web-based application, means for loading a program bean containing the serialized section bean; and

means for returning the custom field to the web-based application so that the custom field is returned without stopping the web-based application to access a property file or to write a code for the structured query language statement.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising:

means for selecting a table;

means for joining a table;

means for selecting a column;

means for reviewing a conditional structured query language statement;

means for determining if the structured query language statement is valid, and responsive to determining that the structured query language statement is valid; and

means for saving the structured query language statement.