Abstract: A technique for exporting results from a reporting system report in a format type including a datamart, PDF file, flat file, Excel™ file, HTML file, and XML file or in another relational database management system (RDBMS) format. In one embodiment, the technique is realized through a method and a system for automatically exporting results from a business intelligence, OLAP, or other reporting system. One embodiment of the present invention involves a method of enabling a user to designate a report desired for execution as an export-report. When the report is processed, the report is exported into a datamart or other format and made available for access by the user through one or more different types of user devices. The user may then further manipulate or export the results from the datamart to a file type as desired.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the performance of administrator tasks in performing changes to enterprise level data that is associated with various users. The method includes the steps of generating a login dialog box to accept login information from an administrator; establishing a connection to at least one project source name; providing an outline to the administrator, the outline facilitating the creation and submission of command based instruction by providing syntax for a purpose, the outline being maintained in a predetermined folder; and providing a history feature to save a set instructions that were executed successfully.

Abstract: The present invention presents security and user account integration with remote authentication servers, (e.g., repositories not owned by the server). Integration may occur with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), an operating system (e.g., Microsoft Windows™ NT™) authentication, custom account repositories and others. For example, the server may synchronize associated user lists with a remote repository. In another example, the server may also make external calls to remote authentication servers to validate a user's username and password. Other information may be validated.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for filtering data in a database using an execution plan. The execution plan has a first processing pass against the database that calculates a filter set using a filter criteria, and a second processing pass against the filter set that calculates a report result.

Abstract: An reporting system that incorporates prompt objects in a report definition to enable a user to specify answers to questions to customize a report at execution time. A prompt object contains a single question to be answered, validation values for the answer, and attributes indicating how the prompt object is to be processed. A collection of answers is built up in a resolution object. A report is thus defined by selecting prompt objects in place of templates, filters, or any of the aspects of a template or filter. As a separate object, a single prompt may be issued once and the answer supplied to each reference to the prompt object in a report. A resolution object may be created and saved before the execution of a report. The saved resolution object can then be used to answer prompts at the time of the report execution.

Abstract: A reporting system that incorporates a context sensitive prompt object in a report definition to enable questions to be answered automatically by the reporting system (e.g., decision support system, business intelligence and OLAP) at report execution time. The context sensitive prompt object is an object separate from the report such that the context sensitive prompt object may be used by a plurality of different reports. The answer is defined at least in part by a contextual feature of the report execution.

Abstract: An report system that incorporates prompt objects in a report definition to enable a user to specify answers to questions to customize a reporting system (e.g., decision support system, business intelligence and OLAP) report at execution time. A prompt object contains a single question to be answered, validation values for the answer, and attributes indicating how the prompt object is to be processed. A report is thus defined by selecting prompt objects in place of templates, filters, or any of the aspects of a template or filter. As a separate object, a single prompt may be issued once and the answer supplied to each reference to the prompt object in a report.

Abstract: An reporting system that incorporates prompt objects in a report definition to enable a user to specify answers to questions to customize a report at execution time. A prompt object contains a single question to be answered, validation values for the answer, and attributes indicating how the prompt object is to be processed. A collection of answers is built up in a resolution object. A report is thus defined by selecting prompt objects in place of templates, filters, or any of the aspects of a template or filter. As a separate object, a single prompt may be issued once and the answer supplied to each reference to the prompt object in a report. A resolution object may be created and saved before the execution of a report. The saved resolution object can then be used to answer prompts at the time of the report execution.

Abstract: A reporting system that incorporates prompt objects in a report definition to enable a user to specify answers to questions to customize a report at execution time. A prompt object contains a single question to be answered, validation values for the answer, and attributes indicating how the prompt object is to be processed. A collection of answers is built up in a resolution object. A report is thus defined by selecting prompt objects in place of templates, filters, or any of the aspects of a template or filter. As a separate object, a single prompt may be issued once and the answer supplied to each reference to the prompt object in a report. A resolution object may be created and saved before the execution of a report. The saved resolution object can then be used to answer prompts at the time of the report execution.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating objects between related projects. Dependencies between object are checked as objects are moved between projects. The dependency review enables all dependent object to be copied simultaneously. The system and method facilitates the management of multiple stages of a project by permitting as object and all of its modified dependents to be easily copied from one stage to another.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient data retrieval and processing in an online analytical processing system, a reporting system, a business intelligence system, or a data mining system. The system provides for retrieval and processing of a data result set from a plurality of data sources. The system includes a query structure assembly module, a syntax assembly module, and a process optimization module. The query structure assembly module defines a query structure based upon query assembly rules and a desired data set (such as the set of data for a particular OLAP report). The syntax assembly module defines one or more query language statements based upon the defined query structure. The process optimization module evaluates processing options based upon a database schema associated with the data sources. One or more query language statements may be assembled by the system and run against the data sources to return the desired data result set.

Abstract: Security filters that manage user access to data based on user identification and other data when a user attempts to access information via a query or other mechanisms. Security filters may be implemented to prevent users from viewing or otherwise accessing certain data in a database or other source of information in a reporting or other system. The level of access authorized by a security filter may be based on a user's role, capabilities, or other criteria. For example, a regional manager may have a security filter that allows a user to view data from the user's particular region regardless of the report the user runs. A security filter may include a filter expression, a top level and a bottom level where each component may be further define a user's ability to access certain data.

Abstract: A report resolution system that includes prompt objects used to define every aspect of a report and specifically an object-prompt object. To resolve a report with prompt objects, a report instance is created and passed to a resolution server that collects the prompt objects contained therein to create a resolution object that includes the prompt questions from the prompt objects. A report server raises an event to prompt the user to respond to the questions in the resolution object.

Abstract: A system that incorporates prompt objects in a report definition to enable a user to specify answers to questions to customize a reporting system, decision support system, business intelligence and OLAP report at execution time. A prompt object contains a single question to be answered, validation values for the answer, and attributes indicating how the prompt object is to be processed. A report is thus defined by selecting prompt objects in place of templates, filters, or any of the aspects of a template or filter. As a separate object, a single prompt may be issued once and the answer supplied to each reference to the prompt object in a report. A prompt object may also contain another prompt object nested within it, in which the answer to an inner prompt object is used by the system to validate the answer to an outer prompt object.

Abstract: The invention provides a configuration tool to allow a user to build a custom-selected data object hierarchy, for business intelligence or other purposes. Under conventional data storage technologies, the physical layout of the disk drive or other media has dictated what logical views and searches a user could run on the underlying data. For instance, levels could not be readily skipped or many-to-many data object relationships were difficult to maintain. In the invention, a user may select and connect a set of data objects into a hierarchy of their choosing, to permit desired reports and other manipulations on the data to be performed. The hierarchy may be edited, and entry points may be defined. Different levels of security may be applied to the different levels of the hierarchy. Multiple hierarchies or representations may be built for one database or other data source.

Abstract: A system for collaborative processing, comprising a controlling module with access to at least one relational database capable of performing a first set of functions on the data in the database and at least one external analytical engine, the external analytical engine being external to the relational database and being capable of a second set of functions on the data in the database. The controlling module is capable of iteratively processing a multi-step calculation including generating SQL statements to the relational database, passing preliminary results to an external analytical engine and saving data back into the relational database for further processing until the multi-step calculation is performed.

Abstract: A system and method for defining and using logical extensions to a set of data stored in a relational database. A metadata definition for various extensions is stored to explain how to extend data as it is stored into a logical representation suitable for reporting and calculating purposes. An analytical engine translates report requests into SQL queries to access the physically stored data using the metadata extension definitions if necessary to generate appropriate results. Here, data is stored in at least one table that is physically keyed by a set of attributes with the attribute determining the granularity or level of data contained within the tables. A report request causes the engine to calculate and/or display the data at a lower level of granularity than exists, thereby invoking the metadata definitions. The extension definitions may describe how to extend data from the physical to the logical including joins and allocation rules.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a custom grouping of data in a database. A custom group object is created, a plurality of custom group elements are defined, each of the custom group elements being a subset of the custom group object and being defined by a different filter, each one of the different filters representing a logical expression of qualifications based on the data or a derived calculation of the data. Each of the different filters is resolved against the data or a subset of the data, and the plurality of custom group elements are grouped into a consolidated result set which in not naturally existing in the data structure.

Abstract: A reporting system that incorporates a context sensitive prompt object in a report definition to enable questions to be answered automatically by the reporting system (e.g., decision support system, business intelligence and OLAP) at report execution time. The context sensitive prompt object is an object separate from the report such that the context sensitive prompt object may be used by a plurality of different reports. The answer is defined at least in part by a contextual feature of the report execution.

Abstract: A system for collaborative processing, comprising a controlling module with access to at least one relational database capable of performing a first set of functions on the data in the database and at least one external analytical engine, the external analytical engine being external to the relational database and being capable of a second set of functions on the data in the database. The controlling module is capable of iteratively processing a multi-step calculation including generating SQL statements to the relational database, passing preliminary results to an external analytical engine and saving data back into the relational database for further processing until the multi-step calculation is performed.