Patent ID: 7792814

Claim:
A computer implemented method for parsing unstructured data comprising: providing a user interface configured to accept in a first column a plurality of patterns to apply to unstructured text, wherein said user interface is further configured to accept a plurality of column names in a second column, wherein each of said plurality of patterns is associated with a column name from said plurality of column names; obtaining user input from said user interface comprising said plurality of patterns and said plurality of column names; obtaining at least one row of unstructured data; searching said at least one row of unstructured data for said plurality of patterns to determine matching text for each of said plurality of patterns and to determine unmatched text; obtaining a first display format parameter for said matching text and a second display format parameter, different from said first display format parameter, for said unmatched text; formatting at least one text substring of said at least one row of unstructured data according to said first display format parameter in response to said at least one text substring matching at least one of said plurality of patterns; formatting at least one unmatching text substring according to said second display format parameter in response to said at least one unmatching text substring not matching any of said plurality of patterns; displaying said at least one row of unstructured data at least one row of unstructured data after said formatting in a first display column; displaying said unmatched text in a second display column; and displaying said matching text in a plurality of matching display columns, wherein each matching display column comprises text matching a selected pattern, wherein a displayed title for said each matching display column comprises a selected column name associated with said selected pattern.