Patent ID: 7673245

Claim:
A method of converting a computer user interface panel between different panel types, the method comprising: identifying a first panel associated with a first computer system configured for displaying panels of a first type and not web-based panels; activating an automated process that reads field attributes in a first configuration table that can be used to display the first panel in the first computer system, the first panel comprising a plurality of fields and belonging to the first type of panels that is not web-based and in which a configuration table associated with a panel of the first type is tied to logic that specifies how the panel of the first type interacts with a backend of the first computer system; creating entries in a second configuration table that can be used to display a second panel in a second computer system configured for displaying panels of a second type that is web-based, the second panel comprising at least some of the plurality of fields and belonging to the second type of panels in which a panel of the second type is formed of configuration table entries and is independent of a backend of the second computer system; and displaying the second panel to a user of the second computer system; wherein the automated process: (i) detects a pattern among the field attributes in the first configuration table, the detected pattern comprising a first field attribute corresponding to an input field that is located on a common row and next to a non-input field corresponding to a second field attribute, wherein the detected pattern corresponds to a format for providing input to the input field, (ii) converts the field attributes to be compatible with the second type of panels in a manner such that the detected pattern between the first field attribute and the second field attribute is preserved when the second panel is displayed to the user by the second computer system, and (iii) stores the converted field attributes in the second configuration table for use by the second computer system in displaying the second panel.