Computer system for financial analyses and reporting

An apparatus for operating on a computer a financial database in which financial data is organized in accordance with at least the attributes of time period, financial schedule and business entity, to which such data pertains comprising:

• means for defining in said computer the time periods in which said financial data is organized,
• for each time period, means for defining in said computer the financial and business entities in which said financial data is organized,
• means for receiving financial data in the form of financial schedules of different business entities for defined periods of time, each of said schedules having one of a plurality of first formats,
• means for creating for each different first format a template for conversion of financial data from said first format to a common second format,
• means for storing with the aid of said templates financial data from the defined time periods, financial schedules and business entities in said second format in a database in said computer, said database being organized in accordance with said attributes of time period, financial schedule and business entity,
• means for selecting data stored in said database for output from said database comprising:
• a display screen,
• means for generating on the display screen a listing of the different time periods, financial schedules and business entities for which financial data is stored in said database, and
• means for indicating to the computer by means of the display screen the time periods, financial schedules and business entities for which financial data is to be output from the database, and
• means for generating an output from the database of the financial data for the time periods, financial schedules, and business entities selected by means of the display screen.

A method of generating in a computer a spreadsheet of financial information of the type used in financial schedules comprising the steps of:

• storing said financial information in a first format in a storage means in which each of a plurality of financial data values is associated with a set of identifying attributes,
• defining for each said financial data value a range value which identifies it,
• generating a reference file which associated the financial data values stored in said storage means with individual cells of said spreadsheet, said reference file comprising coded headings for said spreadsheet which specify by range value and identifying attribute the financial data values to be located in the individual cells of the spreadsheet, and
• using said reference file and the financial data values stored in said storage means to generate the spreadsheet.

A method of operating on a computer a financial database in which financial data is organized in accordance with at least the attributes of time period, financial schedule and business entity to which said data pertains comprising the steps of:

• defining in said computer the time periods in which said financial data is organized,
• for each time period, defining in said computer the financial schedules and business entities in which said financial data is organized,
• defining in said computer a hierarchical relationship between at least two of said business entities,
• storing financial data from the defined time periods, financial schedules and business entities in a database in said computer,
• generating an output from the database of financial data from selected time periods, financial schedules and business entities in which financial data from business entities having a hierarchical relationship is consolidated,
• modifying the value of at least one item of financial data associated with a business entity for which a hierarchical relationship has been specified, said business entity being at a lower level in the hierarchical relationship than that of the business entity for which the consolidated financial data is generated, and
• updating the consolidated financial data by generating a record of the difference between the original value of the item of financial data that was modified and the modified value of said item of financial data and adding the difference specified by said record to the value of the corresponding item of financial data in the output of consolidated financial data.

A method of operating on a computer a financial database in which financial data is organized in accordance with at least the attributes of time period, financial schedule and business entity to which such data pertains comprising the steps of:

• defining in said computer the time periods in which said financial data is organized,
• for each time period, defining in said computer the financial schedules and business entities in which said financial data is organized,
• receiving financial data in the form of financial schedules of different business entities for defined periods of time, each of said schedules having one of a plurality of first formats,
• creating for each different first format a template for conversion of financial data from said first format to a common second format,
• storing with the aid of said templates financial data form the defined time periods, financial schedules and business entities in said second format in a database in said computer, said database being organized in accordance with said attributes of time period, financial schedule and business entity,
• selecting financial data stored in said database for output from said database by indicting to the computer the time periods, financial schedules and business entities for which financial data is to be output from the database as well as an output format, and
• generating an output from the database of the financial data for said time periods, financial schedules, and business entities in the output format selected.