Abstract: A graphic screen including data in a table format is displayed in a window. The window implements a Zoom-In function using a Zoom-In display element. A user "Zooms-In" to any row in the table by selecting a row and activating the Zoom-In display element. While displaying the same window, activation of the Zoom-In display element hides the table and displays detailed information in a form format for updating the selected row of the table. The table is hidden and the form format is presented until the user activates a "Zoom-Out" display element, terminating the detailed information form format display and leaving the table display exposed. In the form format, the user performs functions including modifying data relating to a table entry, saving the modified or entered data, proceeding to the next row item, or regressing to the previous row.

Abstract: A workflow or product navigation system includes a single top-level screen which allows access to all aspects of the product information through selection of a single entry. The top-level screen includes a menu bar, a plurality of selectable icon push buttons in an icon area for directing inquiry to all aspects of the product information, and a product listing area. A user may select from several orderings of the icons to most efficiently access the product data. In particular, the icons are arranged in a preselected order as determined according to a business unit default definition. The user may select an alternative user-defined selection and ordering of icons, or a list of all icons in a predefined, fixed order. The icons on the top-level screen convey many details regarding the status of the product information. An icon, on its face, designates the user-access status of the information as read-write or read-only access. If a user has no access to information underlying the icon, no icon is displayed.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) application program has one or more screens and a number of objects hereinafter "field objects", each field object being uniquely associated with a single field in a screen. Each field object contains storage elements that hold data displayed in a screen's field. Each field object also contains storage elements that indicate functions that can be performed on data held in the field object. The field object may have at least three data member storage elements, one for holding data, another for holding a label, and yet another for holding a search operator. The GUI application program also includes field map storage elements, each of which maps a field in a screen to a corresponding column in the database, thereby allowing database queries to be created and performed dynamically on user entered field information. Such field map storage elements allow a database to be changed without affecting various parts, e.g. field objects and screen functions, of the GUI application program.