Hierarchical data extraction

A computer implemented method for extracting hierarchical data from one or more tables in a database, the method comprising:

• a. receiving user input identifying, at least, one or more tables in the database that contain the hierarchical data and a hierarchical structure of the hierarchical data;
• b. generating a Structured Query Language (SQL) statement using the user input received in step (a);
• c. presenting the SQL statement to the database for execution, wherein the SQL statement is generated from the user input by
• i. constructing object SQL statements executable to return all the database items identified by the user input;
• ii. constructing object SQL statements executable to calculate a level of an item in the hierarchical structure;
• iii. constructing object SQL statements executable to calculate a number of child items appendant to an item in the hierarchical structure;
• and,
• iv. combining the object SQL of steps (i) to (iii) to form a single object SQL statement;
• and,
• d. extracting the hierarchical data from the database in response to execution of the SQL statement.