Patent ID: 8903842
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. At a computer system, 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; 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.