Metadata driven reporting and editing of databases

A computer program product for implementing a method for providing enhanced database editing capabilities, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method, the method comprising:

• receiving a database query including a request to edit one or more data items in the database, a particular one of the data items including first existing metadata that includes information at least partly indicating how edits are to be performed on the particular data item;
• determining which data items are impacted by the requested data item edit;
• based on the determination, accessing those data items that are impacted by the requested data item edit;
• prior to performing the requested data item edit, retrieving database metadata for each of those data items that are impacted by the requested data item edit, including retrieving second database metadata for the particular data item, the second database metadata for the particular data item being generated on-the-fly in response to the database query and including information indicating how the requested data item edit is to be performed on the particular data item, the retrieved second database metadata for the particular data item being different than the first existing metadata for the particular data item, the second database metadata for the particular data item being configured to automatically overwrite the first existing metadata for the particular data item, such that the manner of editing the particular data item is altered according to the retrieved second database metadata;
• and
• performing the requested edit to the particular data item according the retrieved second database metadata for the particular data item, regardless of how the edit would otherwise be performed based on the first existing metadata for the particular data item.

A computer system comprising the following:

• one or more processors;
• one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform a method for providing enhanced database editing capabilities, the method comprising:
• receiving a database query including a request to edit one or more data items in the database, a particular one of the data items including first existing metadata that includes information at least partly indicating how edits are to be performed on the particular data item;
• the one or more processors determining which data items are impacted by the requested data item edit;
• based on the determination, accessing those data items that are impacted by the requested data item edit;
• prior to performing the requested data item edit, retrieving database metadata for each of those data items that are impacted by the requested data item edit, including retrieving second database metadata for the particular data item, the second database metadata for the particular data item being generated on-the-fly in response to the database query and including information indicating how the requested data item edit is to be performed on the particular data item, the retrieved second database metadata for the particular data item being different than the first existing metadata for the particular data item, the second database metadata for the particular data item being configured to automatically overwrite the first existing metadata for the particular data item, such that the manner of editing the particular data item is altered according to the retrieved second database metadata;
• and
• performing the requested edit to the particular data item according the retrieved second database metadata for the particular data item, regardless of how the edit would otherwise be performed based on the first existing metadata for the particular data item.