Patent ID: 8131608

Claim:
A computer implemented method of developing a report providing information from a local database stored in a tangible medium, in a predefined structure, to a remote application, using a computer with a processor, comprising: defining, with the processor, an abstract report definition structure representing a report comprising a check payable from a payor to a payee in an amount, the report definition structure having a plurality of data elements that are represented in the report structure in a given way regardless of what natural language and what currency are used in the remote application; localizing at least one of the plurality of data elements by assigning, with the processor, a value to the at least one data element, the value associating the at least one data element with a localized data record, stored separately from the report definition structure, and including localized data reported in the at least one data element, wherein the localized data comprises currency information indicative of the amount of the check, the currency information indicating conversion of a currency from a source currency, corresponding to the amount of the check, to a local currency used in the remote application; assigning, with the processor, values to other data elements in the report definition structure, other than the at least one data element, the values associating the other data elements with data records that are localization-independent, and that are stored separately from the localized data record; exposing the abstract report definition structure and associated data records and localized data record to the remote application; displaying, in a preview pane, the check to be generated by the remote application at a first locale, using the local currency for the first locale to show the amount; and displaying, in the preview pane, the check to be generated by the remote application at a second locale, using the local currency for the second locale to show the amount, the local currency for the second locale being different from the local currency for the first locale.