Scheme for automatic data conversion definition generation according to data feature in visual multidimensional data analysis tool

An automatic definition generation method for automatically generating a data conversion definition to be usedin an apparatus for converting data stored in database or files into graphic data according to the data conversion definition and displaying the graphic data, the method comprising the steps of:

• extracting a data feature of the data from the database or files;
• and
• automatically generating the data conversion definition according to the data feature extracted by the extracting stop, the data conversion definition being formed by an attribute mapping definition defining combinations of data attributes and graphic data parameters and a data conversion method definition defining a method for converting a value of each data attribute into a value of a corresponding graphic data parameter;
• wherein the extracting step also assigns priority orders among data attributes to be targets of conversion into graphic data parameters using a prescribed data priority order assignment rule according to the data feature, and automatically derives attribute mapping combination conditions indicating ordered sequences of the data attributes to be targets of conversion Into graphic data parameters that give visual expressions.

An article of manufacture, comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to function as an automatic definition generation system for automatically generating a data conversion definition to be used In an apparatus for converting data stored in database or files into graphic data according to the data conversion definition and displaying the graphic data, the computer readable program code means includes:
• first computer readable program code means for causing said computer to extract a data feature of the data from the database or files;
• and second computer readable program code means for causing said computer to automatically generate the data conversion definition according to the data feature extracted by the first computer readable program code means, the data conversion definition being formed by an attribute mapping definition defining combinations of data attributes and graphic data parameters and a data conversion method definition defining a method for converting a value of each data attribute into a value of a corresponding graphic data parameter;
• wherein the first computer readable program code means also assigns priority orders among data attributes to be targets of conversion into graphic data parameters using a prescribed data priority order assignment rule according to the data feature, and automatically derives attribute mapping combination conditions indicating ordered sequences of the data attributes to be targets of conversion into graphic data parameters that give visual expressions.