System for viewing databases

• US 8,073,836 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epicor Software Corporation (Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: Epicor Software Corporation (Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Holdings LP)
• Inventors: McNall, Kent S., Dernulling, Samuel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vital, Pierre
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitiku, Berhanu
• Application Number:
  US11/070,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20050256852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,471 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method allows for dynamic, parameterized linking of database views or tables. The database tables are related in a parent-dependent relationship, with dependent tables being linked to parent tables through a parameter. When a new record in the parent table is scrolled to, dependent tables automatically run queries and return records with matching parameters. The parameters include field values. Several table views may be combined in a single database table set. Multiple dependent tables may be linked to an individual parent table in a parallel manner. Dependent tables may also be cascaded through intermediate parent tables, each table in the cascade acting as a dependent to its parent and acting as a parent table to its dependent table(s). Database table sets may be saved and may be transmitted, for example via email.

Claims

1. A method for expressing related database information comprising:

receiving a defined linkage to a first database query result from a user;

performing a first query of a database stored on first computer storage apparatus;

displaying a result of the first database query in a first pane including a first table including data;

receiving a user selection of at least one entry within the first database query result;

automatically generating, for a second pane, a second database query by running the defined linkage to the first database query result using a parameterized query associated with the second pane, the parameterized query employing a reference to the first pane and an indicator the selected record within the first database query result, wherein the second database query is different than the first query;

wherein automatically generating the second database query includes employing an indicator of the selected record within the first database query result as a parameter in the automatic generating a second database query;

wherein automatically generating a second database query includes running a defined linkage to the first database query result;

receiving the defined linkage from user input;

performing the second database query of a database stored in second computer storage apparatus; and

expressing, in the second pane, a second database query result in a second table corresponding to the second database query;

wherein the second database query result includes data related to and different than data in the first database query result.

2. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1:

wherein expressing the second database query result includes processing a result of the second database query to express data returned by the second database query.

3. The method for expressing related database information of claim 2:

wherein expressing a second database query result includes expressing data referenced by a cell included in the second database query result including at least one selected from the group consisting of playing an audio file, playing a video file, displaying a still image, displaying a memo field, displaying a word processor document, displaying a spreadsheet, displaying a presentation, displaying an HTML document, displaying an XML document, and executing a script.

4. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1:

wherein expressing the second database query result includes displaying at least a portion of at least one database record corresponding to the second database query result.

5. The method for expressing related database information of claim 4:

wherein the at least a portion of the at least one database record is a portion of the at least one database record that is automatically selected.

6. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a third database query result;

receiving a selection of a record within the third database query result; and

wherein automatically generating the second database query further includes employing an indicator of the selected record within the third database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the second database query.

7. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a new selection of a second record within the first database query result;

automatically generating a new second database query employing an indicator of the second selected record within the first database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the new second database query; and

expressing a new second database query result corresponding to the new second database query.

8. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving the defined linkage from a stored query set;

wherein the query set includes at least two dynamically linked database queries.

45. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1:

wherein the first computer storage apparatus and the second computer storage apparatus are the same computer storage apparatus.

46. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1:

wherein the first and second database queries are performed on the same database.

47. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1:

wherein the first and second database queries are performed on different databases.

48. The method for expressing related database information of claim 47:

wherein the first and second databases are different database types;

wherein establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window includes receiving the parameterized query statement in at least one of the first or the second windows.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information comprising:

receiving a defined linkage to a first database query result from a user;

displaying the result of a first database query in a first pane including a table including data;

automatically generating, for a second pane, a second database query by running the defined linkage to the first database query result using a parameterized query associated with the second pane, the parameterized query, employing a reference to the first pane and an indicator of the selected record within the first database query result; and

wherein automatically generating the second database query includes employing an indicator of the selected record within the first database query result as a parameter in the automatic generating a second database query;

wherein automatically generating a second database query includes running a defined linkage to the first database query result;

receiving the defined linkage from user input;

expressing a second database query result corresponding to the second database query;

wherein the first database query is different than the second database query; and

wherein the second database query result includes a table with data related to and different that data in the first database query result.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 9:

wherein expressing the second database query result includes processing a result of the second database query to express data returned by the second database query.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 10:

wherein expressing a second database query result includes expressing data referenced by a cell included in the second database query result including at least one selected from the group consisting of playing an audio file, playing a video file, displaying a still image, displaying a memo field, displaying a word processor document, displaying a spreadsheet, displaying a presentation, displaying an HTML document, displaying an XML document, and executing a script.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 9:

wherein expressing the second database query result includes displaying at least a portion of at least one database record corresponding to the second database query result.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 12:

wherein the at least a portion of the at least one database record is a portion of the at least one database record that is automatically selected.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 9 further comprising instructions for:

displaying a third database query result;

receiving a selection of a record within the third database query result; and

wherein automatically generating the second database query further includes employing an indicator of the selected record within the third database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the second database query.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 9 further comprising instructions for:

receiving a new selection of a second record within the first database query result;

automatically generating a new second database query employing an indicator of the second selected record within the first database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the new second database query; and

expressing a new second database query result corresponding to the new second database query.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 9 further comprising instructions for:

retrieving the defined linkage from a stored query set.

17. A method comprising:

establishing a first window having records of a database corresponding to a first query of the database;

establishing a second window having records of a database corresponding to a second query of the database different than the first query;

establishing a defined dynamic linkage between records query in the first window and records in the second window including a parameterized query statement received from a user to automatically perform the second query of the database corresponding to the second window, the second query employing an indicator of a selected database recorded within the first window as a parameter, wherein the records displayed in the second window are selected automatically responsive to a selection of at least one record in the first window according to the dynamic linkage to the selected at least one record displayed in the first window; and

wherein the database records of the first window and the database records of the second window are records from first and second databases, respectively.

18. The method of claim 17:

wherein establishing the first and second windows includes displaying the first and second windows.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

establishing a size of at least one of the first and second windows.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

establishing a location of at least one of the first and second windows.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

receiving a selection of a database first record in the first window; and

automatically displaying at least one related database second record in the second window.

22. The method of claim 21:

wherein the at least one related database second record includes a plurality of records.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

receiving a selection of a database third record in the first window;

automatically displaying at least one related database fourth record in the second window.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

saving the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship there between as a database set.

25. The method of claim 24:

wherein parameters of the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship there between are saved as XML.

26. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

transmitting the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship there between as a database set.

27. The method of claim 26:

wherein the transmission includes attaching the database set to an email.

28. The method of claim 17:

Wherein establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window includes receiving the parameterized query statement in at least one of the first or second windows.

29. The method of claim 17:

wherein establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window includes receiving a graphical interface indication of the dynamic linkage.

30. The method of claim 29:

wherein the graphical interface indication includes a drag-and-drop operation.

42. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 30:

wherein establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window includes receiving a graphical interface indication of the dynamic linkage.

43. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 30:

Wherein establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window includes receiving a graphical interface indication of the dynamic linkage.

44. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 43:

wherein the graphical interface indication includes a drag-and-drop operation.

31. A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases to cause a computer to execute steps comprising:

establishing a first window having records of a database;

establishing a second window having records of a database;

establishing a defined dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window including a parameterized query statement received from a user to automatically perform, the second query of the database corresponding to the second window, the second query employing an indicator of a selected database record within the first window as a parameter; and

wherein selection of a record in the first window automatically determines the records displayed in the second window according to the defined dynamic linkage;

wherein the database records of the first window and the database records of the second window are records from first and second databases, respectively.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 31:

wherein establishing the first and second windows includes displaying the first and second windows.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 32 further including instructions to cause a computer to execute steps comprising:

establishing a size of at least one of the first and second windows.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 32 further including instructions to cause a computer to execute steps comprising:

establishing a location of at least one of the first and second windows.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 32 further including instructions to cause a computer to execute steps comprising:

receiving a selection of a database first record in the first window; and

automatically displaying at least one related database second record in the second window.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 35:

wherein the at least one related database second record includes a plurality of records.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 35 further including instructions to cause a computer to execute steps comprising:

receiving a selection of a database third record in the first window; and

automatically displaying at least one related database fourth record in the second window.

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 31 further including instructions to cause a computer to execute steps comprising:

saving the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship there between as a database set.

39. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 38:

wherein parameters of the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship there between are saved as XML.

40. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 31 further including instructions to cause a computer to execute steps comprising:

transmitting the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship there between as a database set.

41. The non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 40:

wherein the transmission includes attaching the database set to an email.