System and method for providing dynamically grouped search results from a hierarchy

A processor-implemented method of selecting specific configuration items in a database (DB) of items having a hierarchical order, the method comprising:

• providing, by a processor, a user interface (UI) for use with a user computing device, the UI comprising a configuration item (CI) search component, a CI hierarchy display component, and a CI lock display component;
• causing, by the processor, a plurality of CIs from the DB to be displayed in hierarchical order in the CI hierarchy display component, including a top level of the hierarchy, an expansion widget for each displayed CI that is in a hierarchical path of a lower level CI wherein each expansion widget when selected causes the next level of CIs in the hierarchy below the CI associated with the expansion widget to be displayed within the CI display component and when unselected prevents the next level of CIs below the CI associated with the expansion widget from being displayed, and a CI selection widget for each displayed CI wherein each CI selection widget when selected displays a visual indication that indicates that the CI associated with the selected CI selection widget has been selected and causes an identifier for the CI associated with the selected CI selection widget to be displayed in the CI lock display component;
• receiving, by the processor, a selection of a CI selection widget;
• causing, by the processor, a visual indication to be displayed in the selected CI selection widget that indicates that the CI associated with the selected CI selection widget has been selected;
• causing, by the processor, an identifier for the CI associated with the selected CI selection widget to be displayed in the CI lock display component;
• and
• requesting, by the processor, that a lock status be placed on each CI identified in the CI lock display component.

Non-transitory computer readable media encoded with programming instructions configurable to cause one or more processors to perform a method of selecting specific configuration items in a database (DB) of items having a hierarchical order, the method comprising:

• providing, by a processor, a user interface (UI) for use with a user computing device, the UI comprising a configuration item (CI) search component, a CI hierarchy display component, and a CI lock display component;
• causing, by the processor, a plurality of CIs from the DB to be displayed in hierarchical order in the CI hierarchy display component, including a top level of the hierarchy, an expansion widget for each displayed CI that is in a hierarchical path of a lower level CI wherein each expansion widget when selected causes the next level of CIs in the hierarchy below the CI associated with the expansion widget to be displayed within the CI display component and when unselected prevents the next level of CIs below the CI associated with the expansion widget from being displayed, and a CI selection widget for each displayed CI wherein each CI selection widget when selected displays a visual indication that indicates that the CI associated with the selected CI selection widget has been selected and causes an identifier for the CI associated with the selected CI selection widget to be displayed in the CI lock display component;
• receiving, by the processor, a selection of a CI selection widget;
• causing, by the processor, a visual indication to be displayed in the selected CI selection widget that indicates that the CI associated with the selected CI selection widget has been selected;
• causing, by the processor, an identifier for the CI associated with the selected CI selection widget to be displayed in the CI lock display component;
• and
• requesting, by the processor, that a lock status be placed on each CI identified in the CI lock display component.