Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of tools and techniques for facilitating the sale of products for sellers using an online marketplace. According to one exemplary technique, a request for product information for a product is received from a device. Also, the product information is determined in part by determining that the product is for sale in a location and determining a category of the product. Additionally an online marketplace sends the product information that includes seller information for a seller that is legally authorized to sell the product in the location. The seller information includes identification information for the seller.

Abstract: Digital receipts for purchases can be managed using a variety of techniques. Digital receipts can be obtained by an application running on a computing device and can be authenticated when not connected to a server, such as when offline. Digital receipts can be efficiently synchronized, such as when connected to a network for other reasons. A last synchronization timestamp can be obtained and sent to a server environment and digital receipts can be received that are new and/or have been updated since the last synchronization timestamp.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for generating a platform-independent data application. In one method, a definition of a data schema is received for defining data types. A definition of a user interface is also received for access data stored in the data types. Further, a definition of business logic is received for enforcing validation rules and actions associated with the data types. The definitions of the data schema, the user interface, and the business logic are each received in a platform-independent format and used to generate the platform-independent data application.

Abstract: A method and system for the graphical specification and modification of reports is disclosed which enables data reports to be easily created via a report design dialogue. The report design dialogue includes a group-level outline panel containing controls for grouping, as well as other report controls such as those for sorting and aggregating. A method and system for creating a group-level outline panel using an existing database report is also disclosed. Finally, a computer-readable medium storing a computer-interpretable data structure that stores one or more report specifications is disclosed.

Abstract: In some implementations, selected objects are arranged within a view. Each object is assigned an ordinal value, regardless of data type, according to the object's position in a first direction (e.g., horizontal position) relative to other objects of the layout grouping. The objects are linearly aligned along a line parallel to the first direction (e.g., horizontally). Each object's position is then minimally adjusted in the first direction (e.g., horizontally) such that the object has a minimum distance from each other object having a lower ordinal value without overlapping any of the other objects. In some other implementations, a computer-readable medium contains computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform the above-described method. In still other implementations, a computer system has a memory containing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer system's processor, cause the processor to perform the method.

Abstract: A browse mode designer allows an average user of a database application program to easily design reports. The user can use the browse mode designer to build meaningful reports that aggregate data and that combine related data into shaped patterns for easier consumption of information. The browse mode designer can interpret a user's actions and extrapolate what actions are to be performed. A user interface can be used to let the user change the resulting views while being designed.

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 palette of representations that can be generated by an application for database, spreadsheet, word processing, and the like, is provided in response to a request for a new object within the application. If the application already has one or more objects open at the time of the request, the representations are also determined based on the context of the data such as from any currently open object(s). The new object is then generated based on the selected representation from the palette, the context of the data, and a structure of data consumed by the application. The layout parameters for the new object are automatically set based on the current context, the structure of the data, and the selected representation.

Abstract: A method and system for the graphical specification and modification of reports is disclosed which enables data reports to be easily created via a report design dialogue. The report design dialogue includes a group-level outline panel containing controls for grouping, as well as other report controls such as those for sorting and aggregating. A method and system for creating a group-level outline panel using an existing database report is also disclosed. Finally, a computer-readable medium storing a computer-interpretable data structure that stores one or more report specifications is disclosed.

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: .xParts are schematized data wrappers that provide a means by which a suite of office applications can share data amongst themselves and other application as well. Data from an arbitrary resource is selected and is associated with a schema. A schema is used to define the data type of the data, which facilitates representing the data. A unique identifier is associated with the data from the arbitrary resource, which allows a user to provide a context in which the data is to be displayed. The data is displayed in accordance with definitions provided by the schema.