Dynamically generating a database report during a report building process

• US 7,581,189 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kawai, Tosh, Short, Abigail E., Covington, Clinton D., Karimov, Pavel R., Lesser, Stephen I., Woodall, Zachary P., Srinivasamurthy, Kumar, Ruble, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore; William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): UM, DANIEL H
• Application Number:
  US11/344,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 715/762
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation

Abstract

A browse mode designer allows an average user of a database application program to easily design reports. The user can use the browse mode designer to build meaningful reports that aggregate data and that combine related data into shaped patterns for easier consumption of information. The browse mode designer can interpret a user'"'"'s actions and extrapolate what actions are to be performed. A user interface can be used to let the user change the resulting views while being designed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for dynamically generating a database report during a report building process without preconfiguring a layout of the database report, the method comprising:

simultaneously displaying a task pane and a report pane, wherein the task pane includes a display of a plurality of data field identifiers that identify categories of values in a remote database server, wherein the remote database server maintains the values of the plurality of database fields, wherein the report pane includes a display of a report that has a display of a first set of values of a first data field;

without preconfiguring a layout of the database report and while simultaneously displaying the task pane and the report in the report pane;

receiving a selection of a second data field identifier from the task pane,

receiving a selection of an insertion point into the report of the report pane,

in response to the selection of the insertion point, automatically modifying the report, wherein automatically modifying the report includes;

automatically generating and displaying a category in the report that is indicated by the second data field at the insertion point,

automatically querying the remote database to obtain values identified by the second data field identifier that are implicated by the first set of values of the first data field, wherein the remote database returns the values identified by the second data field identifier that are implicated by the first set of values of the first data field, and

automatically displaying a population of the second set of values at the insertion point in the report in relation to the first set of values of the first data field.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein automatically modifying the report further includes automatically changing a width of a column associated with the first data field and automatically change a width of a column associated with the second data field.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein automatically modifying the report further includes automatically changing the width of a row associated with the first data field and automatically change the width of a row associated with the second data field.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein automatically modifying the report further includes generating a selection field bound by a foreign key.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein automatically modifying the report further includes causing a grouping operation, wherein the grouping operation causes content of the second set of values to be grouped according to content of the first set of values.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing a selector for changing the report between a tabular layout view and a stack layout view.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the insertion point includes dragging the second data field identifier from the task pane to the report of the report pane, wherein dropping the second data field identifier automatically causes the display of the category in the report that is indicated by the second data field and automatically causes a querying the remote database to obtain values identified by the second data field identifier that are implicated by the first set of values of the first data field, wherein the remote database automatically returns the values identified by the second data field identifier that are implicated by the first set of values of the first data field.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for dynamically generating a database report during a report building process, the instructions comprising:

providing a report building user interface, wherein the report building user interface includes a task pane and a report pane, wherein the task pane includes a plurality of database field identifiers that are configured to query a remote database server according to a selected database field upon insertion of the selected database field identifier into the report pane, wherein the report pane includes a dynamically modifiable report that is reconfigured upon receiving the insertion of the selected database field identifier from the task pane;

without preconfiguring a layout of the database report and while simultaneously displaying the task pane and the report in the report pane;

receiving a selection of a database field identifier from the task pane,

receiving, in the report of the report pane, an insertion point for the selected database field,

in response to receiving the insertion point, automatically reconfiguring the report, wherein automatically reconfiguring the report includes;

generating a category associated with the selected database field identifier in the report at the insertion point,

querying the remote database server with the selected database field identifier to obtain data in the remote database server associated with the selected database field, and

populating the report with the data in the database at the insertion point associated with the generated category.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein automatically reconfiguring the report further includes automatically changing a width of a column associated with the category.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein automatically reconfiguring the report further includes automatically changing the width of a row associated with the category.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein automatically reconfiguring the report further includes generating a selection field bound by a foreign key.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein automatically reconfiguring the report further includes causing a grouping operation, wherein the grouping operation causes the obtained data to be grouped according to content of another data set.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising providing a selector for changing the report between a tabular layout view and a stack layout view.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the selection of the insertion point includes dragging the selected data field from the task pane to the report of the report pane.

15. A system for dynamically generating a database report during a report building process, the method comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured for;

providing a task pane and a report pane, wherein the task pane includes a display of a plurality of data field identifiers that identify categories of values in a remote database server, wherein the remote database server maintains the values of the plurality of database fields, wherein the report pane includes a display of a report that has a display of a first set of values of a first data field;

without preconfiguring a layout of the database report and while simultaneously displaying the task pane and the report in the report pane;

receiving a selection of a second data field identifier from the task pane,

receiving a selection of an insertion point into the report of the report pane,

in response to the selection of the insertion point, automatically modifying the report, wherein automatically modifying the report includes;

automatically generating and displaying a category in the report that is indicated by the second data field at the insertion point,

automatically querying the remote database to obtain values identified by the second data field identifier that are implicated by the first set of values of the first data field, wherein the remote database returns the values identified by the second data field identifier that are implicated by the first set of values of the first data field, and

automatically displaying a population of the second set of values at the insertion point in the report in relation to the first set of values of the first data field.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein automatically modifying the report further includes automatically changing a width of a column associated with the first data field and automatically change a width of a column associated with the second data field.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein automatically modifying the report further includes automatically changing the width of a row associated with the first data field and automatically change the width of a row associated with the second data field.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein automatically modifying the report further includes generating a selection field bound by a foreign key.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein automatically modifying the report further includes causing a grouping operation, wherein the grouping operation causes content of the second set of values to be grouped according to content of the first set of values.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising providing a selector for changing the report between a tabular layout view and a stack layout view.