Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing and controlling documents including rich text for Web based applications and browsers is provided so that editing of rich text can be facilitated within the browsers. The rich text is represented in a memory structure so that various formats may be flexibly maintained. Text, images, tables, links and the like are represented in the memory structure, which may be maintained in databases for eventual editing. A controller class and subsidiary classes represent the rich text and provide methods to convert html to the memory structure and back, representing the rich text in a relational database, retrieving the rich text from a relational database, and presenting the rich text for editing. A spell checking facility for the rich text is included.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, a system and a computer program for scrolling to an arbitrary position in a set of unfetched rows of data in a relational database. Each of the rows has a plurality of columns and a class value in each of the columns. Also, each column of the set of rows of data has class values for a specified data class, and the rows ore ordered in the set according to a given sequence of these classes. The method of this invention, preferably, comprises the steps of identifying one of the rows in the database, and finding that one of the rows by identifying the given sequence of data classes by which the rows are ordered in the database, and for each of the data classes in the given sequence, determining the class value for the data class in the identified one of the rows. These rows may be ordered for purposes of a query in the database.

Abstract: An adapter layer architecture that provides a consistent protocol for interactions between client and server side code. The architecture, which is particularly well suited for an enterprise application development platform (EADP), isolates what function operates at what side of the request (“client” and “server”). The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a number of specific features. These include: 1. a uniform mechanism to pass data between client and server; 2. a server side mechanism to handle client requests; 3. a client side request handler; 4. a mechanism to provide interactive conversational sessions, with each client session able to maintain multiple concurrent conversations; 5. a mechanism to purge sessions; and 6. unit of work control. In addition, the adapter layer architecture of the invention allows some adjustment in practice for various implementations to meet the adapter requirements.

Abstract: A unique document handling facility on the scale of a Lotus Notes document. Preferably, the documents are stored in a relational database and served-up using Java servlets, with provisions for handling document content and group level security. The preferred implementation of the invention provides several specific features: (1) Presentation and control of heterogeneous document content through the service of the Enterprise Application Development Platform, (2) An efficient scheme for group level and user level security, (3) Presentation of heterogeneous document types, (4) Presentation of heterogeneous data types in the document, (5) A method to externalize definition of keyword selections, and (6) The ability to present document fields in any order, regardless of whether they originate in the head or body of the underlying document.

Abstract: A unique document handling facility on the scale of a Lotus Notes document. Preferably, the documents are stored in a relational database and served-up using Java servlets, with provisions for handling document content and group level security. The preferred implementation of the invention provides several specific features: (1) Presentation and control of heterogeneous document content through the service of the Enterprise Application Development Platform, (2) An efficient scheme for group level and user level security, (3) Presentation of heterogeneous document types, (4) Presentation of heterogeneous data types in the document, (5) A method to externalize definition of keyword selections, and (6) The ability to present document fields in any order, regardless of whether they originate in the head or body of the underlying document.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, a system and a computer program for scrolling to an arbitrary position in a set of unfetched rows of data in a relational database. Each of the rows has a plurality of columns and a class value in each of the columns. Also, each column of the set of rows of data has class values for a specified data class, and the rows ore ordered in the set according to a given sequence of these classes. The method of this invention, preferably, comprises the steps of identifying one of the rows in the database, and finding that one of the rows by identifying the given sequence of data classes by which the rows are ordered in the database, and for each of the data classes in the given sequence, determining the class value for the data class in the identified one of the rows. These rows may be ordered for purposes of a query in the database.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, a system and a computer program for scrolling to an arbitrary position in a set of unfetched rows of data in a relational database. Each of the rows has a plurality of columns and a class value in each of the columns. Also, each column of the set of rows of data has class values for a specified data class, and the rows are ordered according to a given sequence of these classes. The method of this invention, preferably, comprises the steps of identifying one of the rows in the database, and finding that one of the rows by identifying the given sequence of data classes by which the rows are ordered, and for each of the data classes in the given sequence, determining the class value for the data class in the identified one of the rows.

Abstract: An object oriented method and computer system for implementing a persistence mechanism. The persistence mechanism is adapted to effectuate data transfer between a software application and a relational database. The method identifies homes and relationships. Each identified home includes attributes of a table of the database. Each identified relationship has attributes describing a foreign key interaction between two homes of the identified homes. A provided home class is adapted to be instantiated to any of the identified homes. A query to transfer data between the application and the database is generated such that a first home of the identified homes is processed. The first home includes attributes of a first table of the database. The processing of the first home includes an instantiation of the home class to an instance of the first home by setting attributes of the first home.

Abstract: An adapter layer architecture that provides a consistent protocol for interactions between client and server side code. The architecture, which is particularly well suited for an enterprise application development platform (EADP), isolates what function operates at what side of the request (“client” and “server”). The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a number of specific features. These include: 1. a uniform mechanism to pass data between client and server; 2. a server side mechanism to handle client requests; 3. a client side request handler; 4. a mechanism to provide interactive conversational sessions, with each client session able to maintain multiple concurrent conversations; 5. a mechanism to purge sessions; and 6. unit of work control. In addition, the adapter layer architecture of the invention allows some adjustment in practice for various implementations to meet the adapter requirements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing and controlling documents including rich text for Web based applications and browsers is provided so that editing of rich text can be facilitated within the browsers. The rich text is represented in a memory structure so that various formats may be flexible maintained. Text, images, tables, links and the like are represented in the memory structure, which may be maintained in databases for eventual editing. A controller class and subsidiary classes represent the rich text and provide methods to convert html to the memory structure and back, representing the rich text in a relational database, retrieving the rich text from a relational database, and presenting the rich text for editing. A spell checking facility for the rich text is included.

Abstract: A unique document handling facility on the scale of a Lotus Notes document. Preferably, the documents are stored in a relational database and served-up using Java servlets, with provisions for handling document content and group level security. The preferred implementation of the invention provides several specific features: (1) Presentation and control of heterogeneous document content through the service of the Enterprise Application Development Platform, (2) An efficient scheme for group level and user level security, (3) Presentation of heterogeneous document types, (4) Presentation of heterogeneous data types in the document, (5) A method to externalize definition of keyword selections, and (6) The ability to present document fields in any order, regardless of whether they originate in the head or body of the underlying document.

Abstract: An adapter layer architecture that provides a consistent protocol for interactions between client and server side code. The architecture, which is particularly well suited for an enterprise application development platform (EADP), isolates what function operates at what side of the request (“client” and “server”). The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a number of specific features. These include: 1. a uniform mechanism to pass data between client and server; 2. a server side mechanism to handle client requests; 3. a client side request handler; 4. a mechanism to provide interactive conversational sessions, with each client session able to maintain multiple concurrent conversations; 5. a mechanism to purge sessions; and 6. unit of work control. In addition, the adapter layer architecture of the invention allows some adjustment in practice for various implementations to meet the adapter requirements.

Abstract: A Complex Object class is provided for grouping hierarchically unrelated objects, i.e. objects which are unrelated to each other as parent and child objects, into Complex Objects in an object oriented computing environment. Each Complex Object includes a Complex Object Member frame, containing pointers to associated hierarchically unrelated objects, and Complex Object methods for performing actions on the hierarchically unrelated objects as a group. Accordingly, an object manager can send action messages to the Complex Objects to perform actions on the associated hierarchically unrelated objects using the associated Complex Object methods. As a result, customized programming for defining and utilizing Complex Objects is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling versions of selected objects in an object oriented computing system includes a common logical key attribute in each version of an object, which is used to identify all versions of an object. The object frame of each version also includes a unique combination of an insert sequence attribute and an extract sequence attribute. The unique combination of insert sequence attribute and extract sequence attribute allows the selection of a unique version of an object based on time. In order to select one or more versions of an identified object, a version time is converted into a selection sequence value. The selection sequence value is then compared to the insert sequence attributes and extract sequence attributes in order to select at least one of the versions of the selected objects. Each version may also include a perspective attribute for providing another selection criteria for selecting one or more versions of an object.

Abstract: Objects import data from, and export data to, a plurality of external systems in an object oriented computing system via a uniform external interface. The uniform interface includes external interface layers and internal interface layers. Each external interface layer converts data from the associated external system into an identifying token and data value. The external layer also converts an identifying token and data value into data which is formatted for the associated external system. The internal interface layer accepts an identifying token and data value from the external interface layer and converts the data value to a data attribute associated with an object. The internal interface layer also converts a data attribute into an identifying token and data value and provides the token and data value to the external interface layer. Thus, objects need only communicate with the internal interface layer in order to import and export data.

Abstract: A method for storage and retrieval of both time-oriented versions and view-oriented versions of engineering change information in which the engineering change information progresses through a set of status conditions and access to the data by different user groups is conditioned upon the status of the information. Version control software logic enables users to create versioned objects by logical key grouping of data elements. The version control logic acts upon the logical keys and special versioned attributes of these objects for the proper specification and selection of object instances during creation, update or retrieval processing. Insert and extract sequence numbers are automatically generated for both historical preservation of previous engineering change information and efficient retrieval of the currently effective designs.

Abstract: A method and system for the definition and tracking of multiple unique product configurations for configuration management in which customer contracted views of the product are defined by applying temporary changes to the base product configuration. A product serial number effectivity is assigned to each unique customer specified product configuration and to the base product configuration in order to maintain multiple time-oriented versions of the product, thus supporting simultaneously both customer-specified and design-specified engineering changes to the base product. A product configuration identifier provides non-redundant data storage for each unique product configuration and can refer to noncontiguous ranges of product serial numbers. The configuration entry identifier in a product configuration table is used to peg detail component requirements to serially numbered products in order to correlate the product configurations as built with the product configuration as designed.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling, monitoring and integrating engineering and manufacturing changes in a manufacturing enterprise. The status of an engineering change and the status of items affected by the engineering change are monitored by an engineering change control manager application running at a central data processing facility. The engineering change and design or modification of items affected by the change are released to one or more manufacturing locations where additional design changes may be made to accommodate local manufacturing capabilities. Each manufacturing location accepts the engineering change and the corresponding affected items when ready to proceed with implementation of the engineering change. The affected items are promoted locally at the manufacturing location to effective status which releases the affected items into production at the plant.