Abstract: Extended business transactions are processed in a client-server system in a manner which allows processing initiated by a client to be interrupted before the transaction is complete and later resumed by the same or another client from the point of interruption. This is achieved by storing state information indicative of the progress of the transaction in a repository in association with an end-user identifier. When the end-user communicates his identifier via a client to the server for a second time, processing of the transaction can be resumed on the basis of the stored state.

Abstract: In a data processing system, a plurality of user interface objects related into groups are displayed on a desktop; when the user selects one object, such selected object is highlighted on the desktop. The objects related to the selected object are then highlighted using a different intensity. The color of the titlebar of each window in addition may be changed associating a different color to each of such groups of related objects. A pushbutton is also provided on such objects for bringing the related objects to the foreground and moving them near to the selected object.