Patent ID: 8314798

Claim:
A machine-readable storage device having machine readable instructions for creating a chart for a report, the instructions tangibly stored thereon which when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: receiving a first object set related to a first report, wherein the first object set includes at least some dimensions and measures of the first report; comparing the first object set to each of a plurality of object sets related to a plurality of previously run reports; upon determining that the first object set matches one of the plurality of object sets related to the plurality of previously run reports: identifying a type of a chart generated for the matching object set; upon determining that the first object set does not match the plurality of object sets related to the plurality of previously run reports: computing a plurality of affinity quotients, wherein each affinity quotient is computed between the first report and each of the plurality of previously run reports, determining one of the plurality of previously run reports as having the greatest affinity to the first report, and identifying a chart type for the first report based on the affinity quotient of the first report and the one of the plurality of previously run reports having the greatest affinity with the first report; and creating the chart for the first report using the identified chart type.