Abstract:
The method may include generating a plurality of reports where the plurality of reports comprise data from a database, generating at least one report document from the plurality of reports, the at least one report document comprising a plurality of rows, the at least one report document further comprising at least one report document object. The method may also include providing a row pointer to at least one row of the at least one report document, converting the at least one report document object of the at least one row to an extensible markup language schema definition object, serializing the extensible markup language schema definition object to an extensible markup language document. Additionally, if the at least one report document comprises additional rows, the method may include moving the row pointer to the additional row of the at least one report document and repeating serializing the extensible markup language schema definition object of the at least one row to an extensible markup language document.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Exporting reports generated by an application to one or more alternate formats has long been a goal of business. Computers generally aid such a process of exporting the report by allocating memory involved in the process of converting the report from one format type to another format type. As a result, computers may have a significant burden to allocate large amounts of memory when exporting reports.  
         [0002]     The need to allocate large amounts of memory when exporting reports is particularly troublesome to small businesses. Such businesses may not operate high-performance computers with large amounts of memory, or a network of servers working to convert reports to alternate document formats, such as a format that may be viewed with Microsoft Excel. Additionally, exporting data/reports to alternate document formats generally takes considerable time as intermediary objects are generally created to hold the data before it is eventually converted to an alternate format and written as a document file.  
         [0003]     Therefore, there is a need to develop a method to export data/reports to an alternate document format which reduces memory requirements of computers and reduces the time taken during the conversion process.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     A method and apparatus for creating an extensible markup language document is disclosed. The method may include generating a plurality of reports where the plurality of reports include data from a database, generating at least one report document from the plurality of reports, the at least one report document including a plurality of rows, the at least one report document further including at least one report document object. The method may further include providing a row pointer to at least one row of the at least one report document, converting the at least one report document object of the at least one row to an extensible markup language schema definition object, and serializing the extensible markup language schema definition object to an extensible markup language document. Additionally, if the at least one report document includes additional rows, the method may include moving the row pointer to the additional row of the at least one report document and repeating serializing the extensible markup language schema definition object of the at least one row to an extensible markup language document.  
         [0005]     The method of converting the at least one report document object of the at least one row may further include a report document object type of at least one of values, names, and styles, and calculating if the row is at least one of type header, data, and group. Furthermore, the method may further include converting the header row to an extensible markup schema definition row, converting the data row to an extensible markup schema definition row, and converting the group row to an extensible markup schema definition row. The method may further include creating the extensible markup language document for Microsoft Excel. A computer readable medium with computer executable instructions to execute the method is disclosed as is a computer system with a processor programmed to execute the method. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a computing system that may operate in accordance with the claims;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2   a  is an illustration of a report in accordance with the claims;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2   b  is an illustration of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet in accordance with the claims;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method in accordance with the claims;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an export method in accordance with the claims; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a wrapper method in accordance with the claims. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.  
         [0013]     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a suitable computing system environment  100  on which a system for the steps of the claimed method and apparatus may be implemented. The computing system environment  100  is only one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the method of apparatus of the claims. Neither should the computing environment  100  be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components illustrated in the exemplary operating environment  100 .  
         [0015]     The steps of the claimed method and apparatus are operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the methods or apparatus of the claims include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.  
         [0016]     The steps of the claimed method and apparatus may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The methods and apparatus may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.  
         [0017]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system for implementing the steps of the claimed method and apparatus includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer  110 . Components of computer  110  may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit  120 , a system memory  130 , and a system bus  121  that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit  120 . The system bus  121  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus.  
         [0018]     Computer  110  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer  110  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by computer  110 . Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.  
         [0019]     The system memory  130  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  131  and random access memory (RAM)  132 . A basic input/output system  133  (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer  110 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM  131 . RAM  132  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit  120 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 .  
         [0020]     The computer  110  may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,  FIG. 1  illustrates a hard disk drive  140  that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive  151  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk  152 , and an optical disk drive  155  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk  156  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive  141  is typically connected to the system bus  121  through a non-removable memory interface such as interface  140 , and magnetic disk drive  151  and optical disk drive  155  are typically connected to the system bus  121  by a removable memory interface, such as interface  150 .  
         [0021]     The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in  FIG. 1 , provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer  110 . In  FIG. 1 , for example, hard disk drive  141  is illustrated as storing operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 . Operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147  are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer  20  through input devices such as a keyboard  162  and pointing device  161 , commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  120  through a user input interface  160  that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor  191  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  121  via an interface, such as a video interface  190 . In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers  197  and printer  196 , which may be connected through an output peripheral interface  190 .  
         [0022]     The computer  110  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  180 . The remote computer  180  may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  110 , although only a memory storage device  181  has been illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 1  include a local area network (LAN)  171  and a wide area network (WAN)  173 , but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet.  
         [0023]     When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  110  is connected to the LAN  171  through a network interface or adapter  170 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  110  typically includes a modem  172  or other means for establishing communications over the WAN  173 , such as the Internet. The modem  172 , which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus  121  via the user input interface  160 , or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  110 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates remote application programs  185  as residing on memory device  181 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2   a  may be an illustration of a report  200  in accordance with the claims. A Balance Sheet  200  may be an example of a report that was generated from information in a database. An application, or computer executable software program, displaying the report may be part of a business application, such as the Microsoft Small Business Accounting financial management package, or custom designed application. The report may contain header information  205 , group information  210 , data information  215 , and footer information (not shown), to name a few. Each type of information in the report  200  may also include various styles, such as font sizes, font colors, italics, strikethrough, and underlining. Group information  210  may additionally contain various levels of sub-groups, each of which may contain data information  215 . For example, the group “Assets”  210  may contain sub-groups named “Current Assets”  220  and “Fixed Assets”  225 . Furthermore, the Current Assets group may contain sub-groups named “Cash”  230  including sub-groups therein named “Accounts Receivable”  235 , “Other Current Assets”  240 , and “Inventory Assets”  245 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 2   b  may be an illustration of a document  250  created from the report  200 . The document  250  is a Microsoft Excel document containing the same header information  255 , and various forms of identical group and data information. Additionally, various styles present in the report  200  are also correctly represented in the Excel document.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  may be an illustration of a method in accordance with the claims. At block  300  a database may provide data at the request of a report instance  305 . The report instance  305  may be administered by any type of database management system, such as Microsoft SQL Server. The report instance  305  may obtain specific information from the database  300  and pass this information to a report process  310 . The report process  310  configures the information returned from the database into a format that the application can display to a user in the form of a report document  315 . In the event that additional or alternate report documents are desired, a report run process  320  may request the report process  310  generate the alternate report document  315 . If necessary, the report process  310  may request that the report instance  305  perform a specific query on the database in an effort to generate the alternate report document.  
         [0027]     Alternatively, at block  320 , the report run process may initiate a request to convert the report document  315  into an alternate document format. In such a case, the report run process  320  passes the report document  315  to an Export process  325 . As will be discussed later, the Export process  325  converts the report document  315 , row-by-row, to an extensible markup language schema definition (“XSD”) object before passing the object to an extensible markup language (“XML”) file. The XML file may be configured to the particular requirements of Microsoft Excel so that it may be viewed as an Excel Document  330 . Although the method of  FIG. 3  illustrates creating an Excel document  330 , the method is not limited to Excel, but may include any alternate document display application with a format capable of processing XML data, which includes virtually every modern word processor, spreadsheet, etc.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  may be an illustration of the Export process in further detail, in accordance with the claims. Each report document  400  may have rows, with each row containing one or more objects. For example, a report document object of type ReportStyles may contain information pertaining to the overall appearance of the report document  400 . Although modern spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel are applications rich with style formatting and appearance options, they do not interpret the purpose and meaning of this particular object. Similarly, if the report document contains an object of type ReportDesignColumns, the spreadsheet does not have this same object and, therefore, cannot process or interpret meaningful functionality from it. An XSD Wrapper process  405  establishes a pointer to a row in the report document and converts the corresponding object in that row to an XSD object. Rather than iterate through the report document row-by-row while building an XSD file, the XSD object is immediately passed to an XML Serializer  410 , such as the XML Serializer engine in the .NET Framework, which further converts the XSD object to an XML row and writes it to file. If there are additional rows within the report document  400 , the pointer increments to the next row and the process repeats. The resulting XML file  415  may be of an appropriate schema to allow, for example, the spreadsheet to interpret. Serializing rows immediately (on-the-fly) eliminates a need to allocate memory resources that store an XSD file as the report document rows, and their corresponding objects, are being converted.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  may be an illustration of the XSD Wrapper process  405  in further detail, in accordance with the claims. A report document may contain three types of rows; a header row, a data row, and a group row. At block  500  the wrapper gets the report document row and any corresponding objects contained therein. The wrapper first calculates, at block  505 , if the row is of type header and, if so, converts the report document row to an XSD row at block  510 . However, if the wrapper calculates that the report document row is not of type header, then block  515  calculates if the row is of type data. If the row is of type data, then block  520  converts the data row to an XSD row. Finally, if block  515  calculates that the report document row is of type group, then block  525  converts the group row to an XSD row. At the completion of any row conversion, block  530  sends the new XSD row to the XML serializer. The XSD Wrapper process  405  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) repeats as many times as necessary to accommodate all rows within a report document  400 .  
         [0030]     Although the forgoing text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the scope of the patent is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment because describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.  
         [0031]     Thus, many modifications and variations may be made in the techniques and structures described and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present claims. Accordingly, it should be understood that the methods and apparatus described herein are illustrative only and are not limiting upon the scope of the claims.