Open content interface for EH&S systems

A computer-implemented method for importing product data into a database that stores the product data in a first format, wherein the product data is available from a content provider in a second format that is content-provider-specific, the method comprising:

• receiving, at an import interface associated with the database, a mapping file that defines one or more mappings associated with the second format;
• generating mapping rules for mapping a data structure corresponding to the second format to a data structure corresponding to the first format, wherein the mapping rules are generated using the mapping file, and wherein the mapping rules comprise one or more rules for mapping text for product data in the second format to different text for product data in the first format that conveys at least some of the same information as the text for product data in the second format;
• receiving product data from the content provider via the import interface of the database, the received product data having the second format;
• and
• importing the received product data into the database using the mapping rules;
• wherein the mapping file is in a markup-language file format.

A computer-implemented method for importing product data into a database that stores the product data in a first format, wherein the product data is available from a content provider in a second format that is content-provider-specific, the method comprising:

• receiving, at an import interface associated with the database, a mapping file that defines one or more mappings associated with the second format;
• generating mapping rules for mapping a data structure corresponding to the second format to a data structure corresponding to the first format, wherein the mapping rules are generated using the mapping file, and wherein the mapping rules comprise one or more rules for mapping text for product data in the second format to different text for product data in the first format that conveys at least some of the same information as the text for product data in the second format;
• receiving product data from the content provider via the import interface of the database, the received product data having the second format;
• importing the received product data into the database using the mapping rules;
• configuring a filter for selecting a scope of product data to be imported;
• and
• storing the filter and the mapping rules separately.

A computer system for importing product data from a content provider that keeps product data in a second format that is content-provider-specific, the computer system comprising:

• a database for storing product data in a first format;
• and
• an import interface in communication with the database and configured to receive product data from a content provider;
• wherein the import interface is configured to:
• receive a mapping file that defines one or more mappings associated with the second format;
• generate mapping rules for mapping a data structure corresponding to the second format to a data structure corresponding to the first format, wherein the mapping rules are generated using the mapping file, and wherein the mapping rules comprise one or more rules for mapping text for product data in the second format to different text for product data in the first format that conveys at least some of the same information as the text for product data in the second format;
• receive product data from the content provider, the received product data having the second format;
• and
• import the received product data into the database using the mapping rules;
• wherein the mapping file comprises a header file comprising metadata that relates to product data in the second format.

A computer program product tangibly embodied in one or more machine-readable storage media, the computer program product comprising instructions that are executable to import product data into a database that stores the product data in a first format, wherein the product data is available from a content provider in a second format that is content-provider-specific, the instructions for:

• receiving, at an import interface associated with the database, a mapping file that defines one or more mappings associated with the second format;
• generating mapping rules for mapping a data structure corresponding to the second format to a data structure corresponding to the first format, wherein the mapping rules are generated using the mapping file, and wherein the mapping rules comprise one or more rules for mapping text for product data in the second format to different text for product data in the first format that conveys at least some of the same information as the text for product data in the second format;
• receiving product data from the content provider via the import interface of the database, the received product data having the second format;
• and
• importing the received product data into the database using the mapping rules;
• wherein the mapping file comprises a header file comprising metadata that relates to product data in the second format.

A computer program product tangibly embodied in one or more machine-readable storage media, the computer program product comprising instructions that are executable to import product data into a database that stores the product data in a first format, wherein the product data is available from a content provider in a second format that is content-provider-specific, the instructions for:

• receiving, at an import interface associated with the database, a mapping file that defines one or more mappings associated with the second format;
• generating mapping rules for mapping a data structure corresponding to the second format to a data structure corresponding to the first format, wherein the mapping rules are generated using the mapping file, and wherein the mapping rules comprise one or more rules for mapping text for product data in the second format to different text for product data in the first format that conveys at least some of the same information as the text for product data in the second format;
• receiving product data from the content provider via the import interface of the database, the received product data having the second format;
• and
• importing the received product data into the database using the mapping rules;
• wherein the mapping file is in a markup-language file format.

A computer program product tangibly embodied in one or more machine-readable storage media, the computer program product comprising instructions that are executable to import product data into a database that stores the product data in a first format, wherein the product data is available from a content provider in a second format that is content-provider-specific, the instructions for:

• receiving, at an import interface associated with the database, a mapping file that defines one or more mappings associated with the second format;
• generating mapping rules for mapping a data structure corresponding to the second format to a data structure corresponding to the first format, wherein the mapping rules are generated using the mapping file, and wherein the mapping rules comprise one or more rules for mapping text for product data in the second format to different text for product data in the first format that conveys at least some of the same information as the text for product data in the second format;
• receiving product data from the content provider via the import interface of the database, the received product data having the second format;
• importing the received product data into the database using the mapping rules;
• configuring a filter for selecting a scope of product data to be imported;
• and
• storing the filter file and the mapping rules separately.

A computer system for importing product data from a content provider that keeps product data in a second format that is content-provider-specific, the computer system comprising:

• a database for storing product data in a first format;
• and
• an import interface in communication with the database and configured to receive product data from a content provider;
• wherein the import interface is configured to:
• receive a mapping file that defines one or more mappings associated with the second format;
• generate mapping rules for mapping a data structure corresponding to the second format to a data structure corresponding to the first format, wherein the mapping rules are generated using the mapping file, and wherein the mapping rules comprise one or more rules for mapping text for product data in the second format to different text for product data in the first format that conveys at least some of the same information as the text for product data in the second format;
• receive product data from the content provider, the received product data having the second format;
• and
• import the received product data into the database using the mapping rules;
• wherein the mapping file is in a markup-language file format.

A computer system for importing product data from a content provider that keeps product data in a second format that is content-provider-specific, the computer system comprising:

• a database for storing product data in a first format;
• and
• an import interface in communication with the database and configured to receive product data from a content provider;
• wherein the import interface is configured to:
• receive a mapping file that defines one or more mappings associated with the second format;
• generate mapping rules for mapping a data structure corresponding to the second format to a data structure corresponding to the first format, wherein the mapping rules are generated using the mapping file, and wherein the mapping rules comprise one or more rules for mapping text for product data in the second format to different text for product data in the first format that conveys at least some of the same information as the text for product data in the second format;
• receive product data from the content provider, the received product data having the second format;
• import the received product data into the database using the mapping rules;
• configure a filter for selecting a scope of product data to be imported;
• and
• store the filter and the mapping rules separately.