Abstract: A data processing system provides development of complex schedule plans under user control by using sorting and grouping processing to interface between a relational database and a scheduler application. The sorting and grouping processing provides for user-interactive editing of data in the database by presentation of groupings of activities developed in accordance with attributes of the activities concurrently with activities which are not included in a group. Editing of the group based on the presentation of other activities allows the user to apply acquired knowledge and understanding of the subtleties and dynamics of the activities and to make business decisions which therefore do not need to be represented in the scheduler application. Changes to data in the database are logged in a notebook or scratch-pad store so that data may be returned to its original or any prior state.

Abstract: A data processing system provides development of complex schedule plans under user control by using sorting and grouping processing to interface between a relational database and a scheduler application. The sorting and grouping processing provides for user-interactive editing of data in the database by presentation of groupings of activities developed in accordance with attributes of the activities concurrently with activities which are not included in a group. Editing of the group based on the presentation of other activities allows the user to apply acquired knowledge and understanding of the subtleties and dynamics of the activities and to make business decisions which therefore do not need to be represented in the scheduler application. Changes to data in the database are logged in a notebook or scratch-pad store so that data may be returned to its original or any prior state.