Abstract: Methods, articles of manufacture and systems for managing execution of workflows. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for managing execution of a data driven multi-step workflow. The method includes receiving input data for a step of the workflow and performing the step of the workflow on the input data to obtain a result set. Then, at least one rule is applied to the result set for determining whether one or more associated conditions are satisfied. The at least one rule defines the one or more associated conditions and an associated process. If the one or more associated conditions are satisfied, the associated process is performed on the result set.

Abstract: The present invention provides for aging queries. Queries are aged by, for example, adding temporal conditions to the queries. The temporal conditions include temporal fields having a time-based association with one or more other conditions of the respective queries. In one embodiment, each temporal condition includes a temporal field and corresponding time value, where the time value is set to the time when the respective query was last run.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for managing access to query results and, more particularly, for managing access by multiple users to persistently stored query results, whereby at least some of the users may have different access rights. One embodiment provides a method of managing access to a query result obtained upon execution of a query against one or more databases. The method comprises creating security information configured for restricting access to the query result. The security information is associated with the query result. Access to some or all of the query result is granted to a requesting entity on the basis of the security information and an attribute of the requesting entity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for accessing data stored in multiple data sources. Such methods employ an automated software agent to maintain a collection of data sources available for querying. The data sources may all reside within a single local network or may be distributed throughout multiple locations. Generally, the automated software agent searches a given domain for additional data sources according to a defined set of selection criteria. After discovering an additional data source, the automated software agent configures a query application to reflect the availability the additional data source. Further, the automated software agent may periodically evaluate the collection of data sources against the selection criteria and remove those that are either no longer available or no longer satisfy the selection criteria.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for managing relationships in a data abstraction model abstractly describing data in a database. One embodiment provides a method of linking logical branches of data in a database based on the relationships. The method includes accessing a data abstraction model abstractly describing the data in the database. The data abstraction model defines a logical tree structure having a plurality of logical branches. Relationships between logical fields of different logical branches are identified and logical links abstractly describing the identified relationships are created.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for processing queries and, more particularly, for graphically representing relationships between different queries. One embodiment provides a method for graphically representing a relationship between a first and a second query. The method includes selecting, from the first and second queries, elements to be compared. On the basis of the selected elements, a degree of similarity between the first and second queries is calculated. The method further includes displaying a first query object representative of the first query and a second query object representative of the second query in a user interface. The first and second query objects are positionally arranged on the basis of the calculated degree of similarity. The positional arrangement reflects the relationship between the first and second queries.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for creating queries and, more particularly, for creating queries using query conditions from previously defined queries. One embodiment provides a method for composing a query. The method comprises displaying at least a first query object representative of a first query and a second query object representative of a second query in a user interface. Each of the query objects is positionally related to define a plurality of user-selectable regions. Each region corresponds to a different executable query.

Abstract: Methods, computers and articles of manufacture for testing and validating user interface content. Documents can be tested for both structure and content. In one embodiment, documents are parsed and compared to determine whether the documents are at least structurally equivalent. Parsed documents may also be compared to determine whether the documents are content the equivalent. In another embodiment, one or more test expressions are executed against one or more of the documents being compared.

Abstract: Method, system and article of manufacture for scheduling queries. In particular, the scheduling options made available to a user for a particular unit of work are determined dynamically at the time of scheduling. In this way, the execution cost, for example, of a particular unit of work can be taken into account when determining which scheduling options to make available. In addition, or alternatively, system availability and/or user parameters may be accounted for when determining which scheduling options to make available.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for processing queries that are executed against a database and, more particularly, for processing aggregation queries that are executed against a database. One embodiment provides a method of constructing queries selectively capable of returning aggregation information related to data in a database.