US 7,734,625 B2Granted

Method for performing expression-based validation

AssigneeSap SE

InventorsPaul N. Weinberg, Richard T. Endo, Wenphing Lo

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Abstract

A method for performing expression-based validation with records in a computer system database, eliminating the need to write programs or scripts. A validation expression can define complex intra-record tests and inter-record tests and may be performed manually against one or more records and have a success or failure indicated for each record in an interface. A validation expression may be placed into one or more groups and performed as a group with the success or failure indicated for each record. A validation expression may be initiated from workflows to implement a business process with system-enforced data integrity. A validation expression may be manually executed or automatically executed when attempting record update to prevent the entry of invalid data and ensure data integrity. A validation expression may also be used to search using the Boolean result of validation expressions.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for performing expression-based validation of hierarchical audience data records operating on a computer coupled to a computer system database comprising:

generating a token-based menu for an expression-builder user interface for display on a display device informationally coupled to a computer system database, wherein said token-based menu comprises a drop-down list of at least one token and further wherein said token-based menu contributes said at least one token to a validation expression, and further wherein said validation expression references said at least one token, and further wherein said token-based menu further comprises a drop-down list of attributes;
displaying said drop-down list coupled to said expression-builder user interface;
using said user interface to build said validation expression for validating a plurality of hierarchical audience data records in said computer system database, wherein said validation expression further comprises said at least one token selected from said drop-down list of attributes of said token-based menu, wherein the hierarchical audience data records are stored in an audience hierarchy formed from the viewpoint of a given audience;
executing said validation expression to produce a Boolean result for each of said plurality of hierarchical audience data records;
where when any of said Boolean results comprises a failure, obtaining a level of execution for said validation expression wherein said level of execution comprises one of a plurality of levels;
and,
displaying said plurality of Boolean results.

4 more elements

A method for performing expression-based validation of fields and attributes operating on a computer coupled to a computer system database comprising:

generating a token-based menu for an expression-builder user interface display on a display device informationally coupled to a computer system database, wherein said token-based menu comprises a drop-down list of at least one token;
displaying said user interface of said computer system database comprising said token-based menu for creating a validation expression for validating hierarchical audience data in fields and attributes of said computer system database wherein said validation expression comprises a Boolean validation expression, wherein the hierarchical audience data is stored in an audience hierarchy formed from the viewpoint of a given audience;
obtaining an audience hierarchy having related parent audience data and child audience data;
inheriting a field from said parent audience data as an operand for said at least one token wherein said field is missing from said child audience data;
accepting said at least one token from said user interface and a value for said field to build said validation expression, wherein said field value is associated with a language, region and regulatory zone;
executing said validation expression on said field value to produce a Boolean result, wherein said executing further comprises setting a tooltip value for said Boolean result associated with at least one record on said user interface wherein said tooltip value comprises a message that is associated with said Boolean result;
returning said Boolean result;
and,
displaying said Boolean result in association with said field.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.