Abstract: A hierarchical graphical listing or chart rendered on a display includes multiple nodes that are at different hierarchical levels and may include connecting branches that represent hierarchical links. Each of nodes is active and has an action associated with it so that the action is integrated into the information in the listing. In addition, the hierarchical graphical listings allow simple retrieval of information from a database record having plural fields. In one implementation, multiple successive hierarchical graphical listings are rendered. A user selects from each listing a node that corresponds to information of interest, as well as a field in a database record. The user selections of nodes from successive hierarchical graphical listings are tracked, and a database query is formed from the sequence of selections.

Abstract: A global database library contains multiple records from which a hierarchical graphical listing or chart can be formed. Each record includes a set of generic key fields and a Type field that allows the generic key fields to assume or represent different characteristics according to the value or data in Type field. The type field allows the single set of generic key fields to correspond to different types of information for the different records of different organizations, for example.