Method and structure for managing multiple electronic forms and their records using a static database

A method for structuring a relational database executable on a computer, the data content of which is used to populate form fields in forms;

• the forms structured as fixed data content interspersed with form fields for receipt and display by the computer of variable data content;
• the variable data content derived from primary tables in said relational database;
• said method comprising:
• creating one or more reference tables which store information about said primary tables thereby to permit tracking of changes to said form fields;
• and
• storing keys on the computer and utilising the keys to link data between forms and wherein the primary keys are generated by an application in communication with the database via the internet and wherein the application resides on a digital device remote from the database;
• and
• wherein said database structure permits the fixed form content to be updated to create new versions of a specific form and generate version specific variable form content for each form type in the database;
• and
• wherein the fixed form content and variable form content are stored in said relational database and wherein all form content can be directly queried with queries which can return result sets containing form content for one or more form types and for multiple versions of each form type in the query.

A system for storing versioned data;

• said system including
• a. a relational database for storing data used to populate form records fields wherein a database table structure stores both fixed and variable form content for multiple form types by creating tables to store the fixed form content and variable form content;
• b. a server coupled to the database;
• c. a plurality of user devices connected to the server and the database via a network;
• d. a user interface provided at each user device for allowing a user to access said data stored on said relational database;
• and
• e. wherein said server implements the method for structuring a relational database executable on a computer, the data content of which is used to populate form fields in forms;
• the forms structured as fixed data content interspersed with form fields for receipt and display by the computer of variable data content;
• the variable data content derived from primary tables in said relational database;
• said method comprising:
• creating one or more reference tables which store information about said primary tables thereby to permit tracking of changes to said form fields;
• and
• storing keys on the computer and utilising the keys to link data between forms and wherein the primary keys are generated by an application in communication with the database via the internet and wherein the application resides on a digital device remote from the database;
• and
• wherein said database structure permits the fixed form content to be updated to create new versions of a specific form and generate version specific variable form content for each form type in the database;
• and
• wherein the fixed form content and variable form content are stored in said relational database and wherein all form content can be directly queried with queries which can return result sets containing form content for one or more form types and for multiple versions of each form type in the query,
• with a digital communications device hosting an application.

A digital communications device hosting an application;

• the application generating at least a first primary key;
• the primary key stored in the relational database executable on a computer, the computer storing data used to populate form records fields, wherein a database table structure stores both fixed and variable form content for multiple form types by creating tables to store the fixed form content and variable form content;
• and wherein said database table structure permits the fixed form content to be updated by said computer to create new versions of a specific form and generate version specific variable form content for each form type in the database;
• and wherein the fixed form content and variable form content are stored in a relational database on said computer and wherein all form content can be directly queried with queries which can return result sets containing form content for one or more form types and for multiple versions of each form type in the query, and wherein keys are stored and used to link data between forms and are generated by an application in communication with the database via the internet and wherein the application resides on a digital device remote from the database, the at least one key utilised to link data between the forms stored on the database.