Method and system for optimizing rendering of data tables

A data processing system comprising:

• at least one memory;
• a processor in communication with the memory, the processor operable to execute instructions which cause the processor to:
• receive at least one table parameter associated with the contents of the table;
• determine if the at least one table parameter has changed;
• in response to the at least one table parameter changing, calculate based on the table parameter, two or more statistical values for a plurality of visible columns of the table;
• receive a user choice for a run time column width and a default column width associated with a column width for each of the columns in the table;
• calculate at least one readability index for data displayed in the visible columns using at least one of a data type, the statistical values, the run time column width and the default column width;
• calculate a maximum readability index for visible columns;
• determine based on the maximum readability index, one or more optimal column widths for display of the data;
• set the column widths for the visible columns to the optimal column widths;
• store the optimal column widths as meta-data;
• and
• display the table of data using the optimal column widths.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage device;
• and
• program code on the computer readable storage device that when executed within a data processing device, the program code provides the functionality of:
• receiving at least one table parameter associated with the contents of the table;
• determining if the at least one table parameter has changed;
• in response to the at least one table parameter changing, calculating based on the table parameter, two or more statistical values for a plurality of visible columns of the table;
• receiving a user choice for a run time column width and a default column width associated with a column width for each of the columns in the table;
• calculating at least one readability index for data displayed in the visible columns using at least one of a data type, the statistical values, the run time column width and the default column width;
• calculating a maximum readability index for visible columns;
• determining based on the maximum readability index, one or more optimal column widths for display of the data;
• setting the column widths for the visible columns to the optimal column widths;
• storing the optimal column widths as meta-data;
• and
• displaying the table of data using the optimal column widths.