Method for performing expression-based validation

• US 7,734,625 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Weinberg, Paul N., Endo, Richard T., Lo, Wenphing
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): XUE, BIN
• Application Number:
  US11/193,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/736
• 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 16/24565 Triggers; Constraints

Abstract

A method for performing expression-based validation with records in a computer system database, eliminating the need to write programs or scripts. A validation expression can define complex intra-record tests and inter-record tests and may be performed manually against one or more records and have a success or failure indicated for each record in an interface. A validation expression may be placed into one or more groups and performed as a group with the success or failure indicated for each record. A validation expression may be initiated from workflows to implement a business process with system-enforced data integrity. A validation expression may be manually executed or automatically executed when attempting record update to prevent the entry of invalid data and ensure data integrity. A validation expression may also be used to search using the Boolean result of validation expressions.

Claims

1. A method for performing expression-based validation of hierarchical audience data records operating on a computer coupled to a computer system database comprising:

generating a token-based menu for an expression-builder user interface for display on a display device informationally coupled to a computer system database, wherein said token-based menu comprises a drop-down list of at least one token and further wherein said token-based menu contributes said at least one token to a validation expression, and further wherein said validation expression references said at least one token, and further wherein said token-based menu further comprises a drop-down list of attributes;

displaying said drop-down list coupled to said expression-builder user interface;

using said user interface to build said validation expression for validating a plurality of hierarchical audience data records in said computer system database, wherein said validation expression further comprises said at least one token selected from said drop-down list of attributes of said token-based menu, wherein the hierarchical audience data records are stored in an audience hierarchy formed from the viewpoint of a given audience;

executing said validation expression to produce a Boolean result for each of said plurality of hierarchical audience data records;

where when any of said Boolean results comprises a failure, obtaining a level of execution for said validation expression wherein said level of execution comprises one of a plurality of levels; and

,

displaying said plurality of Boolean results.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using said validation expression as a search filter.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

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

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

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

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

,

permitting updating of at least one record.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

wherein said plurality of levels comprises an error, displaying an error; and

,

denying the update of at least one record.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said executing said validation expression comprises executing said validation expression as part of a workflow.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying further comprises displaying said plurality of Boolean results in a column associated with said plurality of hierarchical audience data records on said user interface.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said executing said validation expression comprises setting a tooltip such that said tooltip shows a message associated with each said Boolean result.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

grouping a plurality of validation expressions into a validation group; and

,

said executing step further comprising executing all validation expressions in said validation group.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

forming a hierarchy comprising said plurality of validation expressions.

12. A method for performing expression-based validation of fields and attributes operating on a computer coupled to a computer system database comprising:

generating a token-based menu for an expression-builder user interface display on a display device informationally coupled to a computer system database, wherein said token-based menu comprises a drop-down list of at least one token;

displaying said user interface of said computer system database comprising said token-based menu for creating a validation expression for validating hierarchical audience data in fields and attributes of said computer system database wherein said validation expression comprises a Boolean validation expression, wherein the hierarchical audience data is stored in an audience hierarchy formed from the viewpoint of a given audience;

obtaining an audience hierarchy having related parent audience data and child audience data;

inheriting a field from said parent audience data as an operand for said at least one token wherein said field is missing from said child audience data;

accepting said at least one token from said user interface and a value for said field to build said validation expression, wherein said field value is associated with a language, region and regulatory zone;

executing said validation expression on said field value to produce a Boolean result, wherein said executing further comprises setting a tooltip value for said Boolean result associated with at least one record on said user interface wherein said tooltip value comprises a message that is associated with said Boolean result;

returning said Boolean result; and

,

displaying said Boolean result in association with said field.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said displaying further comprises displaying said Boolean result on said user interface in a column associated with at least one record associated with said field.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

using said validation expression as a search filter.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

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

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

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

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

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

displaying said at least one drop-down list of attributes; and

,

building said validation expression from user selections from said at least one drop-down list of said token-based menu.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

obtaining a level of execution for said validation expression wherein said level of execution comprises a plurality of levels including warning level and error level.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

displaying a warning when said executing said validation expression fails when said level of execution is said warning level; and

,

updating at least one record of said computer system database.

20. A method for performing expression-based validation of hierarchical audience data field values operating on a computer coupled to a computer system database comprising:

generating a 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;

displaying said user interface display on a display device informationally coupled to said computer system database comprising said token-based menu for creating a validation expression for validating data field values of hierarchical audience data stored in a computer system database, wherein the hierarchical audience data is stored in an audience hierarchy formed from the viewpoint of a given audience;

obtaining at least one data field value of said hierarchical audience data, wherein said at least one data field value is associated with a language, region and regulatory zone, and further wherein said at least one data field value excluded from a child audience is inherited from a parent audience that comprises said at least one data field value;

associating said at least one data field value with said at least one token of said token-based menu;

accepting the selection of said at least one token to build said validation expression executing said validation expression to produce a Boolean result;

returning said Boolean result; and

,

using said validation expression as a search filter.