Abstract: Generating a report involves phases such as (a) database queries or other raw data accesses, (b) calculations such as data grouping, sorting, filtering, aggregation, (c) data presentation layout, (d) data formatting, and (e) rendering. When generating a modified version of a report, reusable interim results for phases (b), (c), and (d) are identified and retrieved from a cache instead of being recalculated. Newly calculated interim results are also cached for possible future use.

Abstract: A data access system which includes the capability to categorize subsets of the data in the data store, query result or other source of data as aggregate data or as detail data and also the ability to explicitly re-categorize the aggregate data as detail data, e.g., as part of execution of one or more processes on the data, so that operations that apply to detail data also apply to the re-categorized aggregate data. Additionally, automatic processes are provided for re-categorizing aggregate data as detail data based on data usage context, i.e., based upon how data in the data store is to be manipulated, processed and/or presented according to queries, commands, etc. received by the data store. Calculation of aggregations on top of already pre-aggregated data is enabled, and merging of designated aggregate data with detail data provides increased flexibility in a final dataset.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve the retrieval or interaction with data in databases. A database has one or more tables with compound keys. An entity key that is a single composite key of each of the compound keys is generated via an invertible composition transformation. The composite entity key is a binary serialization of the respective compound keys. The composite entity key is used by separate applications to interact with the database instead of the respective underlying compound keys. The composite entity key is decomposed into the underlying compound keys when a particular database operation needs to be performed. The results are then returned to the separate application with the composite entity key.

Abstract: A reporting system is described herein that allows a report author to declare data reporting structures that specify to a reporting application how to dynamically categorize data with changing or potentially unknown characteristics. The reporting system may extend RDL and the data grouping provided by Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services by adding new elements to the XML-based RDL schema. The reporting system allows the report author to specify for the system to fill gaps in the data, so that the report has a similar layout even as data changes from period to period. The reporting system also allows the report author to specify whether data that does not fit any predefined group bucket is displayed in a report. Thus, the reporting system allows unsophisticated database users to define reports that group data consistently regardless of missing values or other changes in the underlying data.

Abstract: An object data manipulation system is provided. The system includes a definition object model that includes a set of dynamic group definitions over a data hierarchy. A cursor component points to a subset of the data hierarchy, where the subset is loaded into memory for further processing.

Abstract: User values and selections are collected and provided to a report server that customizes a generically defined report pursuant to the user values and selections. An ordered set of report parameters is declared in the definition of a report and then this parameter definition is used to drive user prompting and execution of the report. As parameter values are collected in sequence order, a value retrieved or specified by the user for one parameter may be used to generate the set of the allowed values or default value of a parameter later in the sequence. Parameters are dynamically presented to the user. After values for all parameters been retrieved or specified, a report is generated by the report server.

Abstract: Resizing and/or repositioning a target object related by containment to one or more related object laid out on a computer user interface. Original sizes and/or positions of the related objects to the target object resized and/or repositioned are stored. During the resize and/or reposition operation of the target object, an impact on a related object is calculated based upon a change from the stored original sizes and/or positions of the related object.

Abstract: A computer output display system is provided. The system includes a layout component to determine one or more rendering rules that are applicable to a subset of display output controls. A format component communicates the rendering rules via a generic protocol that is employed by the subset of display output controls to render a display.

Abstract: An object data manipulation system is provided. The system includes a definition object model that includes a set of dynamic group definitions over a data hierarchy. A cursor component points to a subset of the data hierarchy, where the subset is loaded into memory for further processing.

Abstract: A rendering system is provided. The rendering system includes a rendering component that receives a request to view a data set and provide output to drive a display application. A processing engine generates output data for the rendering component, where the output data is suitable to satisfy a present demand to render a subset of the data set.

Abstract: A data access system which includes the capability to categorize subsets of the data in the data store, query result or other source of data as aggregate data or as detail data and also the ability to explicitly re-categorize the aggregate data as detail data, e.g., as part of execution of one or more processes on the data, so that operations that apply to detail data also apply to the re-categorized aggregate data. Additionally, automatic processes are provided for re-categorizing aggregate data as detail data based on data usage context, i.e., based upon how data in the data store is to be manipulated, processed and/or presented according to queries, commands, etc. received by the data store. Calculation of aggregations on top of already pre-aggregated data is enabled, and merging of designated aggregate data with detail data provides increased flexibility in a final dataset.

Abstract: Various technologies for processing a selection on an item on a report. In one implementation, a request to perform an action on the item may be received. Whether one or more actions corresponding to the item exist based on one or more parameters and one or more values of the parameters associated with the item may be dynamically determined. A list of one or more actions may be displayed if the one or more actions exist.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve the retrieval or interaction with data in databases. A database has one or more tables with compound keys. An entity key that is a single composite key of each of the compound keys is generated via an invertible composition transformation. The composite entity key is a binary serialization of the respective compound keys. The composite entity key is used by separate applications to interact with the database instead of the respective underlying compound keys. The composite entity key is decomposed into the underlying compound keys when a particular database operation needs to be performed. The results are then returned to the separate application with the composite entity key.

Abstract: Grouping and regrouping of data using aggregation is disclosed. In one aspect of this disclosure, data can be grouped based on some expressions, and then this result can be regrouped based on other expressions which may utilize aggregates computed in the context of the first group. Such regrouping is performed on a group basis—as opposed to being regrouped, for example, on a row basis. The grouping and regrouping can employ various logical expressions that may incorporate the aggregates. Moreover, regrouping of regrouping can be performed, and the mentioned logical expressions can be based on groups of various scopes.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for completing partially specified paths. For example, users can partially specify paths by specifying some preferred entities and roles along the paths so that these paths have to incorporate these preferred entities and roles. From then, queries can automatically complete the paths, unless more specification information is needed. In completing these paths, numerous restrictions can be used, such as a role and its inverse cannot be used in a path, and no role may be traversed more than once in a path.

Abstract: End user sorting and filtering of data extracted for report processing can be performed. That is, data can be filtered or sorted subsequent to the execution of underlying queries performed to extract data from a data source. A user can sort or filter data by selecting a set of data values using a filter or sort control attached to a header or to a data field. The scope of effect of the filter or sort within the report may be specified. That is, a specified filter or sort may act locally or may apply globally. Filtering or sorting may apply to other regions of data linked to the filtered or sorted data region according to the specified scope of the filter. A filter or sort may apply to each row of data in the data set, to each row of data in the data region, to each instance of a group or to one or more sets of data.

Abstract: A preferred path between two selected entities is determined. Initially, there is provided a representation of the data structure in the form of a plurality of entities having relations between them indicative of roles and the relations reflecting a cardinality of one of a one-to-one, one-to-many and a many-to-one relationship between the entities. A query is entered that provides an indication of a first selected entity and a second selected entity. A preferred path is selected through the entities and relations that couples the first selected entity to the second selected entity. The preferred path is selected from a plurality of paths as a function of the number of changes in cardinality along the plurality of paths and a indicator indicative of a preferred role relating two entities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for declaratively controlling the visual state of items in a report allow the visual state of any report item to be toggled from any other item. A set of declarative metadata may be associated with a report item. The declarative metadata may identify an initial visual state of the item, whether the item is a control item, and if so which other items are controlled from the item. The declarative metadata may further identify an initial visual state of a control image associated with a control item. Report processing software can initially display a report in accordance with the initial visual state specified in the declarative metadata. When a control item is activated, the software can change the visual state of identified items, as well as the visual state of the corresponding control image.