Abstract: A task-based sub-application surfaces only controls that are needed to perform a task, from a plurality of different forms in a parent application. A sub-application system runs the sub-application by executing navigation logic and maintaining a separate navigation stack, so that the user can perform a task without the computer system needing to surface entire forms where only a small subset of the controls on those forms are needed to perform the task.

Abstract: A task-based sub-application surfaces only controls that are needed to perform a task, from a plurality of different forms in a parent application. A sub-application system runs the sub-application by executing navigation logic and maintaining a separate navigation stack, so that the user can perform a task without the computer system needing to surface entire forms where only a small subset of the controls on those forms are needed to perform the task.

Abstract: A really simple syndication (RSS) feed generator provides a set of data related to an entity to a user in the form of a really simple syndication (RSS) feed in a manner so that the set of data includes entity information at the feed-level. A user of the RSS feed may use the feed-level entity information to consume the set of data in a number of different ways. In an embodiment, the feed-level entity information includes meta-data defining the entity such that a user may use the metadata to display the entity on the client side. The RSS feed generation system allows a user to manipulate a copy of an instance of entity data as necessary for a client.

Abstract: A really simple syndication (RSS) feed generator provides a set of data related to an entity to a user in the form of a really simple syndication (RSS) feed in a manner so that the set of data includes entity information at the feed-level. A user of the RSS feed may use the feed-level entity information to consume the set of data in a number of different ways. In an embodiment, the feed-level entity information includes meta-data defining the entity such that a user may use the metadata to display the entity on the client side. The RSS feed generation system allows a user to manipulate a copy of an instance of entity data as necessary for a client.

Abstract: A really simple syndication (RSS) feed generator provides a set of data related to an entity to a user in the form of a really simple syndication (RSS) feed in a manner so that the set of data includes entity information at the feed-level. A user of the RSS feed may use the feed-level entity information to consume the set of data in a number of different ways. In an embodiment, the feed-level entity information includes meta-data defining the entity such that a user may use the metadata to display the entity on the client side. The RSS feed generation system allows a user to manipulate a copy of an instance of entity data as necessary for a client.

Abstract: An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls of a database application. When a task-based functionality tab is selected from the user interface, selectable functionality controls provided by the associated database application for performing aspects of a task related to the selected tab are presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above a workspace in which a user is entering or editing data. Upon selection of a different task-based functionality tab, the presentation of functionality controls associated with the first task is removed, and selectable functionality controls associated with the second selected task-based functionality tab are presented in the user interface. The selectable functionality controls presented in the user interface are grouped into logical groupings for more efficient utilization.

Abstract: A really simple syndication (RSS) feed generator provides a user access to a set of data in the form of an RSS feed containing an object. The RSS feed generator allows the user to generate a feed definition using any of a user interface, a web based application programming interface, and an HTTP request. The RSS feed generator uses the feed definition provided by the user to generate the RSS feed and exposes the RSS feed in the form of RSS XML data. The RSS feed generator allows a business system to dynamically update the set of data contained in the RSS feed in a manner that allows a user to perform a plurality of functions on the RSS feed.

Abstract: In a web-based service environment, third party providers need to have varying degrees of access to user data for their complementary services. To prevent third party providers from having broader access than necessary or not adequate levels of access, transferable restricted security tickets are employed to determine an appropriate level of access for third parties. Tickets with expiration and restriction roles define a duration and level of access for a third party. The restrictions are determined through an intersection of the authorizing user's security role and restriction roles defined in the system.

Abstract: An application displays a user interface (UI) component. A client can apply customizations to this UI component. After the client applies customizations to the UI component, the client modifies a solution set containing solutions that modify the UI component. After the client modifies the solution set, the application displays a new version of the UI component. Modifications provided by the solutions in the solution set are applied to the new version of the UI component. In addition, the customizations remain applied to the UI component without the client manually re-applying the customizations to the UI component.

Abstract: An application displays a user interface (UI) component. A client can apply customizations to this UI component. After the client applies customizations to the UI component, the client modifies a solution set containing solutions that modify the UI component. After the client modifies the solution set, the application displays a new version of the UI component. Modifications provided by the solutions in the solution set are applied to the new version of the UI component. In addition, the customizations remain applied to the UI component without the client manually re-applying the customizations to the UI component.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer products are provided for allowing bi-directional communication between a database application and a remote data source and for allowing updating of data on a remote data source with data edited or created at a client site remote from the remote data source during an offline data editing or entry session via a client database application.

Abstract: A user interface is provided that allows users to create queries interactively. The user interface operates by creating a source query (or, for example, SQL commands) for the user while they select fields from a data source. This provides users with an alternative to using conventional designers, wizards, or other tools to manually generate a query.

Abstract: In a web-based service environment, third party providers need to have varying degrees of access to user data for their complementary services. To prevent third party providers from having broader access than necessary or not adequate levels of access, transferable restricted security tickets are employed to determine an appropriate level of access for third parties. Tickets with expiration and restriction roles define a duration and level of access for a third party. The restrictions are determined through an intersection of the authorizing user's security role and restriction roles defined in the system.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide for bi-directional communication between a spreadsheet application worksheet and a database data source that allows modified data to be written from a spreadsheet application to source data in a database data source from which the original pre-modified data was obtained. Offline data changes in a spreadsheet application are cached by a data provider application and are published to a remote data source when the spreadsheet application is synchronized with the data source. Error conditions and data conflicts resulting from new or modified data published to a database data source from a spreadsheet application worksheet are reported to a user of the spreadsheet application worksheet through a data provider application to allow the user an opportunity to resolve error conditions and data conflicts between the user's data changes and other data changes made to the same source data contained in the database data source.