Abstract: A new interface and methods allow a new versatility both in both managing a database, and in presenting hierarchical database information in a more useful way. User marks are used to determine the visibility of the elements at the various hierarchical levels in a hierarchical directory structure of a database. Hence, the user marks are user hierarchical visibility marks. The user hierarchical visibility marks are automatically propagated to other elements in the structure according to a filter selected by the user, for example.

Abstract: The data type of requested data stored in a column of a database table is determined and the data accessed in the data type in which the data is stored. The data type can then be converted to a second data type before outputting the data.

Abstract: The header inscription of one or more columns in a data table is reduced in horizontal width. A user having input to a first view of a data table can select a desired column at any location in the column to reduce the horizontal width of the header inscription. The header inscription is reduced in horizontal width, and a second view of the data table is displayed in which the header inscription of the selected column has reduced horizontal width. The header inscriptions of some or all columns in the data table can also be reduced in horizontal width by selection of a single column. Further, the header inscription style utilized in the reduction of the horizontal width can be user selected.

Abstract: A new interface and methods allow a new versatility both in both managing a database, and in presenting hierarchical database information in a more useful way. User marks are used to determine the visibility of the elements at the various hierarchical levels in a hierarchical directory structure of a database. Hence, the user marks are user hierarchical visibility marks. The user hierarchical visibility marks are automatically propagated to other elements in the structure according to a filter selected by the user, for example.

Abstract: The data type of requested data stored in a column of a database table is determined and the data accessed in the data type in which the data is stored. The data type can then be converted to a second data type before outputting the data.

Abstract: The header inscription of one or more columns in a data table is reduced in horizontal width. A user having input to a first view of a data table can select a desired column at any location in the column to reduce the horizontal width of the header inscription. The header inscription is reduced in horizontal width, and a second view of the data table is displayed in which the header inscription of the selected column has reduced horizontal width. The header inscriptions of some or all columns in the data table can also be reduced in horizontal width by selection of a single column. Further, the header inscription style utilized in the reduction of the horizontal width can be user selected.

Abstract: A computer-based method for defining properties of columns of database tables includes receiving a user input selecting at least one source column of a first database table as a source from which metadata defining the properties of said at least one source column is to be copied, receiving a user input selecting a location of a definition table as a target into which said metadata is to be copied wherein said definition table defines column properties of a second database table, and copying said metadata from said source to said target to define the properties of at least one column of said second database table such that said at least one column of said second database table corresponds to the definition of the properties of said at least one source column of said first database table selected as said source.

Abstract: A computer based method imports table data from a selected source document into a selected target document. The source document is at least partly written in a tag language and the target document is in a format accessible by a database software application. The method includes: temporarily storing data of a selected source; analyzing the table structure of the temporarily stored source data; and generating a target table in accordance with the table structure of the source data.