JPH05342071A - Dynamic table coupling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability such as reducing the input burden of a user or decreasing input error by facilitating and simplifying a method for displaying and designating the column information lists of respective tables to be coupled. CONSTITUTION:Column information lists 10A and 10B are displayed, and columns to be coupled are designated to a couple column input field 104 in order of column number on the column information list. Next, coupling keys on the main table side and the sub table side are designated. At this time, the coupling key on the main table side is designated to a main table side coupling key input field 105 in order of column number on the column information list. In the case of main table side coupling key designation since, it corresponds to the table on the main table side, a cell cursor 101 is displayed on the main table side column information list. On the other hand, a sub table side coupling key is designated to a sub side coupling key input field 106 in order of column number on the column information list. In the case of designating the sub table side coupling key, since it corresponds to the sub table side table, a cell cursor 102 is displayed on the sub table side column information list.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dynamic table join method for joining two or more tables to generate one table (join table).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional software for processing a database, when two or more tables are chain-joined to generate one table (joined table), a user has to specify a plurality of items. Figure 4 for each item
The following is a description according to the flow of the operation flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 4, the table 1 of FIG. 2 is a main table, the table 2 of FIG. 2 is a sub table (join target), and the second column 201 of the main table and the first column 202 of the sub table are key columns of a join key. (An item string connecting two tables), and the second column 203 and the third column 2 of the sub table after the second column of the main table.
The conventional user interface screen at the time of generation of the combination table having the combination result of Table 3 of FIG.

Thereafter, FIG. 4 (A), FIG. 4 (B), FIG.
The table shown in (C) is divided into four areas, and the area names are used for description. The four areas are shown in FIG.
4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C, "table name area" where the table name is input at the upper part of the first column, "column name" where the column name is input at the upper part of the second and subsequent columns "Area", "Data element area" for inputting variables and displaying data in the lower part of the second column and below, and in the lower part of the first column, the order of combination (this If you enter the numerical value "1" or "2"),
In (C), it is a "line operation area" for inputting an operator (in this case, "P.") for displaying the combined result.

First, a column name guide screen (FIGS. 4A and 4B) of two tables to be combined is displayed (step 51). The column name guide screen is a table screen in which a table name and a column name are displayed in the table name region and the column name region, respectively. At this time, the data element area and the row operation area are blank. Further, in this case, since the column data of the table of FIG. 4B is combined with the table of FIG.
The table of (A) is referred to as a "main table", the table of FIG. 4B is referred to as a "sub table", and the tables of FIGS. 4A and 4B are referred to as "basic tables".

Second, the "output table (FIG. 4C)" for outputting the combined result (combined table) is displayed (step 5).
2). "Display of output table" is the display of a table (blank table) only with a frame in which nothing is displayed / set in the table name area, column name area, row operation area, and data element area.

Thirdly, "table name 41" and "column names 42 to 48" are set in the table name area and the column name area of the output table (by operator's key input) (step 53). Here, the "output table" is "the join key is the second column of the main table and the first column of the sub-table, and the second column and the third column of the sub-table are inserted after the second column of the main table. The number of columns must be adjusted so that it becomes a "joined table of columns", and the column names must be set so that the columns are arranged in the same way as the joined result.

Fourth, the join string is set in the data element areas of the basic table and the output table with the same variables (all variables starting with "_" are variable names) (step 54). For example, in the case of FIG. 4, since the third column and the fourth column of the basic table of FIG. 4B are combined after the third column of the basic table of FIG. Variables (_A, _C1, _B, _C, _D) are set in the data element areas from the second column to the sixth column of the basic table of FIG. 4 and then the third and fourth columns of the basic table of FIG. Set variables (_E, _F) in the data element area of the column. Then, in the data element areas of the columns of the output table of FIG. 4C corresponding to the columns of the basic table of FIG. 4A and FIG.
(A), the same variables (_A, _C1, _E, _F, _B, _C, _D) as the variables set in the basic table of FIG. 4B are set.

Fifth, since this connection is a chain connection,
A join order must be set in the row operation area of the base table (step 55). In the case of chain join, specify "1" for the main table side and "2" for the sub table side. Therefore, FIG.
“1” is set in (A) and “2” is set in FIG. 4 (B).

Sixth, the condition table (FIG. 4D) is displayed (step 56). "Displaying the condition table" means displaying a blank state in which nothing is displayed in the condition table.

Seventh, the join key is variable-specified in the main table and the sub-table of the basic table (_C1 in FIG. 4A and _C in FIG. 4B).
2), describe conditional expression 49 in the condition table (step 5)
7). Since a general expression for generating a join table in a chain join is "C (" join key variable on main table side "=" join key variable on sub table side ")", in this case, conditional expression 49
become that way.

This completes the settings for all items, so that the operator "P." for displaying the joined table is designated in the row operation area of the output table (FIG. 4C), and the joined key is generated by pressing the execute key. And display can be performed.

[0013]

As described in [Prior Art], there are many items that the user has to specify in the user interface in the conventional join table generation, and the specification method for each item is different. Therefore, it is a considerable input burden for the user. Especially when there are many columns in the output table, "Set table name and column name of output table"
Also, "user input burden" such as "designation of the same variable in the basic table and output table" and accompanying increase in "user input error" are noticeable.

Further, the combination keys have the same attribute (numerical value and numerical value,
Although it must be (characters and characters), only the column name is displayed only by displaying the column name guidance screen, so there is a high possibility that "attribute mismatch" will occur, or if the same column name exists, I want to specify " The column is different from the column actually specified ”
"User's designation mistake" frequently occurs.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is software for processing a database, in which two or more tables are chain-joined to generate one table. In the method, a column information list for displaying the column number, column name, attribute and length of each table to be joined and a column information list display means for displaying an input field for inputting each designated item on the same screen, and the column information. Cell cursor up / down moving means by pressing the up / down arrow keys of the cell cursor displayed on the list, and the cell cursor column number for displaying the column number of the cell cursor display position on the column information list in the input field It is characterized by including a reflecting means and a simple designating means for all designated items by the column numbers displayed on the column information list.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Table 1 of FIG. 2 is a main table, table 2 is a sub-table, the second column 201 of the main table and the first column 202 of the sub-table are key columns of the join key, and the sub-columns after the second column of the main table are sub-columns. Second column 203 and third column 2 of the table
An embodiment of the present invention in the case of generating a joined table in which Table 3 obtained by joining 04 is the joining result will be described with reference to FIG.
The operation will be described below according to the flow of the operation flowchart.

First, the column information lists 10A and 10B are displayed (step 301). At this time, the column information list on the main table side (FIG. 1A) and the column information list on the sub table side (FIG. 1A)
(B)) and the input fields 103 to 106 are displayed on the same screen, and "column number", "column name", "attribute", and "length" are displayed on each column information list. There is.

Secondly, the column into which the combined column is to be inserted is designated in the insertion position input field 103 by the column number on the column information list (step 302). Since the join column is inserted into the main table, the column specified in the insertion position input field is the column on the main table side. The column number can be specified by "Direct input of column number" and "Cell /
Input the cursor column number ”. The former is a method of directly inputting a column number on the OS cursors 107 to 109 on the input field, which is similar to a general input method. The latter is a method of inputting a column number using the cell cursors 101 and 102. This cell cursor can be moved up and down by pressing the up and down arrow keys, and the cell cursor is positioned. Since the "column number" is displayed in the input field, the column number can be specified simply by positioning the cell cursor on the column information list at the position of the "column number" you want to specify. When the insertion position is designated, the cell cursor 101 is displayed on the column information list on the main table side because it corresponds to the table on the main table side. At this time, no cell cursor is displayed on the column information list on the sub-table side. Since each input field corresponds to either the main table side or the sub table side, the display of the cell cursor depends on each input field and is displayed on the column information list of either the main table side or the sub table side. It When the "H TAB" key is pressed, the control shifts to the next input field 104.

The third column to be combined is designated in the combined column input field 104 by the column number on the column information list (step 30).
3). Since the columns of the subtable are joined to the main table, the columns specified in the join column input field are the columns of the subtable side. Multiple columns can be specified as the join column, and since multiple columns are often specified, the range specification symbol ":" and the multiple column specification symbol ","
Is supported. For example, when it is desired to specify the 1st to 5th columns and the 8th column, if only the plural column designation symbol "," is designated, it becomes "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8", and the range designation symbol ":" If the designation is made using the multiple column designation symbol ",", it becomes "1: 5,8". The range designation symbol and the multiple column designation symbol can be repeatedly used. Each column number can be input by reflecting the cell / cursor column number, but the range designation symbol and the multiple column designation symbol are the OS on the input field.
Type directly at the cursor. The column number can be specified in the same way as for specifying the insertion position: "Direct input of column number" and "Reflect input of cell cursor column number". When a join column is specified, since it corresponds to the table on the sub table side, the cell cursor on the column information list on the main table side is erased when control is passed to the join column input field, and the column information list on the sub table side is deleted. A cell cursor 102 is displayed above. Pressing the "H TAB" key transfers control to the next input field 105, and pressing the "B SKIP" key returns control to the previous input field 103.

Fourth, the join keys on the main table side and the sub table side are designated. First, the join key on the main table side is specified in the join key input field 105 on the main table side by the column number on the column information list. Since the key column of the join key is specified for the main table here, the column specified in the join key input field on the main table side is the column on the main table side. There are two methods for specifying the column number: "Direct input of column number" and "Reflect input of cell / cursor column number". In the case of designating the main table side join key, since it corresponds to the table on the main table side, the cell cursor 101 is displayed on the column information list on the main table side. Pressing the "H TAB" key transfers control to the next input field 106, and pressing the "B SKIP" key returns control to the previous input field 104. Next, the sub-table side join key is specified in the sub-table side join key input field 106 by the column number on the column information list. Here, the key column of the join key is specified for the sub-table, so the column specified in the sub-table side join key input field is the sub-table side column. The method of specifying the column number is the same as the specification on the main table side. When the sub-table side join key is designated, since it corresponds to the table on the sub-table side, the cell cursor 102 is displayed on the column information list on the sub-table side. When the "H TAB" key is pressed, the execution key input prompt message is displayed, and when the "BSKIP" key is pressed, the control returns to the previous input field 105.

Since the setting of all items is completed as described above, the combination table is generated by pressing the execution key.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the combined table generation, the number of items that the user has to specify in the conventional user interface is 7, for example, but the number of items can be reduced to 4, for example, by using the column information list. In addition, by displaying the information of "attribute" and "length" in addition to "column number" and "column name" on the column information list, the index when specifying the column number increases, and the column number of the user It is possible to reduce designation mistakes. By adopting the column number specification method for all items and adopting the column number reflection input method in the input field of the cell cursor on the column information list, the specification method for each item is simplified and simplified. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the input load on the user and to drastically reduce the input error accompanying it.

Therefore, the operability of the user at the time of generating the join table can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a user interface screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main table and a sub table according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
It is a figure which shows the joining result table which is the joining result produced | generated from the two tables.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a user operation at the time of generating a connection table according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a user interface screen in a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a user operation at the time of generating a connection table in the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10A Main table side column information list 10B Sub table side column information list 101 Cell cursor 102 Cell cursor 103 Insertion position input field 104 Join column input field 105 Main table side join key input field 106 Sub table side join key input field 107-110 OS cursor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A software for processing a database, which joins two or more tables in a chain to create a "joined table" in a dynamic table join method of a user interface when creating a "joined table". Column information list for displaying the column number, column name, attribute and length of the column information and the column information list display means for displaying the input field for inputting each designated item on the same screen, and the cell displayed on the column information list. Cell / cursor vertical movement means by pressing the cursor up / down arrow keys, cell / cursor column number reflection means for displaying the column number of the cell / cursor display position on the column information list in the input field, and the column information list A dynamic table joining method characterized by including a simple designation means for all designated items by the column numbers displayed above.