Method for improved processing of expression-based data

• US 7,725,483 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Poyourow, David, Weinberg, Paul N., Endo, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Cam Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, CECILE H
• Application Number:
  US11/193,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 707 3- 7, 707100-101, 707/104.1, 707/102, 717/101, 717104-126, 704/5, 705 1- 9, 709/200, 709/236, 715709-710
• US Class Current: 707/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/215 Improving data quality; Data cleansing, e.g. de-duplication, removing invalid entries or correcting typographical errors

Abstract

Expression-based data may comprise data that is processed by a validation expression for example. After a validation expression is created it may then be performed with respect to one or more data values or data records. A validation expression returns a Boolean result that signifies a success or failure result. A validation expression can define complex intra-record tests and inter-record tests with unlimited complexity. In order to improve processing of validations, the system uses virtual data known as calculation fields. Calculation fields are stored in memory at runtime and not in a database thereby eliminating the necessity of selecting and updating records in the database. A dirty bit identifying fields and attributes that need to be calculated based on a dependent data may be used to defer calculation to a later time when the calculation field is displayed or a sort operation occurs for example.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising a memory for improved processing of expression-based data validation configured to:

generate at least one token-based menu for an expression-builder user interface for a computer system database, wherein said token-based menu comprises a drop-down list of at least one token;

display said expression-builder user interface of said computer system database comprising said at least one token-based menu to create a validation wherein said validation comprises a Boolean validation expression wherein execution of a validation expression returns a result that indicates integrity of data in a record of said computer system database;

provide said expression-builder user interface to validate a plurality of records in said computer system;

provide a calculation field in said memory coupled to said expression-builder user interface wherein said calculation field is cached in said memory at run time, said memory is external to said computer system database, and further wherein said calculation field comprises a computed value computed from token-based expressions describing data in said computer system database and further where said calculation field is coupled to said expression-builder user interface;

obtain said computed value from said calculation field;

execute said validation expression comprising said computed value to produce a Boolean truth result of validation for each of said plurality of records, and wherein said validation expression is further configured to set a tooltip value for a validation result column associated with said plurality of records on said user interface, and wherein said tooltip value shows a message that is associated with said validation;

wherein when said Boolean truth result of validation comprises a failure, obtain a level of execution for said validation wherein said level of execution comprises a plurality of levels; and

,

return said Boolean truth result of validation for each of said plurality of records.

3. The computer system of claim 1 further configured to:

limit a drill-down search using said validation in conjunction with a hierarchal search tool.

4. The computer system of claim 1 further configured to:

limit a drill-down search using said validation in conjunction with a free form search tool.

5. The computer system of claim 1 further configured to:

display at least one drop-down list of attributes, wherein said at least one token-based menu comprises said least one drop-down list of attributes; and

,

build said validation from user selections from said at least one drop-down list of attributes.

6. The computer system of claim 1 further configured to:

display a warning, wherein said plurality of levels comprises said warning; and

,

permit an update of at least one record.

7. The computer system of claim 1 further configured to:

deny an update of at least one record; and

display an error, wherein said plurality of levels comprises said error.

8. The computer system of claim 1 further configured to:

display said Boolean truth result in association with at least one record on which said validation is executed; and

,

display said Boolean truth result in a column associated with said at least one record on said expression-builder user interface.

9. The computer system of claim 1 further configured to:

group a plurality of validations into a validation group;

wherein said execute step further comprising execute all validations in said validation group.

10. The computer system of claim 9 further configured to:

form a hierarchy comprising said plurality of validations.

2. The computer system 1 further configured to:

use said validation as a search filter.