Patent ID: 7752551

Claim:
A computer implemented method of building an application having one or more user interface components for hierarchically displaying a primary data table having a set of data fields stored at a relational database and providing an indication of relationships between one or more data fields stored at the relational database comprising: obtaining hierarchical display information from the relational database regarding the set of data fields associated with the primary data table and relationships defined for said data fields; creating a hierarchical display that displays at least the set of data fields associated with the primary data table and relationships defined for said data fields; selecting from said hierarchical display at least one data field of said set of data fields; assigning a selected one of said data fields to at least one of the one or more user interface components; generating an output hierarchy using said relationships to automatically provide a plurality of output levels, the plurality of output levels comprising at least one user interface component for displaying at least one data field having a relationship with said selected data field within said set of data fields; and displaying said output hierarchy, wherein each of said plurality of output levels displays a level of detail associated with said selected data field.