Automatic generation of data models and accompanying user interfaces

Abstract

Techniques to generate data models for an item master having a number of items. Each item is associated with a number of attributes and each attribute is associated with a set of values. In one method, the items in the item master are initially classified into a number of pagesets, with each pageset being defined by a unique combination of values for a first set of (classification) attributes. For each pageset, a second set of (selectable) attributes is determined to uniquely identify the items in the pageset. The selectable attributes may be selected from a list of candidate attributes, which may include mandatory attributes designated to be used as selectable attributes and optional attributes that may be selected for use. Data models are generated for each pageset based in part on the selectable attributes, and include a set of tables descriptive of the items in the pageset.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computer program product for generating data models for an item master with a plurality of items, comprising a computer-usable medium having embodied therein computer-readable program codes for 
 classifying the items in the item master into a plurality of pagesets, wherein each item in the item master is associated with a plurality of attributes and each attribute is associated with a respective set of possible values, and wherein each pageset is defined by a unique combination of values for a first set of attributes;    determining a second set of attributes for each pageset, wherein the attributes in the second set are used to identify items in the associated pageset; and    generating data models for each pageset based in part on the associated second set of attributes.    
     
     
         2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-usable medium is further embodied with computer-readable program codes for 
 receiving a first set of configuration variables, and    wherein the first set of attributes is specified in the first set of configuration variables.    
     
     
         3 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-usable medium is further embodied with computer-readable program codes for 
 validating data in the item master.    
     
     
         4 . The computer program product of  claim 3 , wherein the computer-usable medium is further embodied with computer-readable program codes for 
 generating a first log file with errors resulting from the validating.    
     
     
         5 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the data models includes a set of tables descriptive of the items in the pageset.  
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the data models for each pageset include 
 a plurality of features tables, one feature table for each attribute in the second set of attributes for the pageset, and    a configuration table indicative of valid and invalid configurations for the items in the pageset.    
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 6 , wherein invalid configurations are represented in part by a plurality of types of exception messages.  
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , a first type of exception messages corresponds to attributes in the second set having one value.  
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , a second type of exception messages corresponds to a pair of attributes in the second set having mutually exclusive sets of values.  
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-usable medium is further embodied with computer-readable program codes for storing the data models to a repository.  
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-usable medium is further embodied with computer-readable program codes for 
 generating output files for the plurality of pagesets based on the generated data models.    
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the output files include 
 a plurality of pagesets files, one for each of the plurality of pagesets, each pageset file including data for the associate pageset, and    a contents list file including data non-specific to the pagesets.    
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the output files are provided as XML documents.  
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the output files are provided as HTML files.  
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of attributes for each pageset includes a sufficient number of attributes such that the items in the pageset are uniquely identified by their values for the attributes included in the second set.  
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of attributes for each pageset includes a minimum number of attributes such that the items in the pageset are uniquely identified by their values for the attributes included in the second set.  
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the attributes in the second set are selected from among a plurality of candidate attributes.  
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of candidate attributes include one or more mandatory attributes designated to be included in the second set.  
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of candidate attribute includes one or more optional attributes selectable for inclusion in the second set.  
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more optional attributes are provided in an ordered list, and each optional attribute is considered for inclusion in the second set based on its order in the ordered list.  
     
     
         21 . A computer program product for forming a list of attributes for identifying a plurality of items in a pageset, comprising a computer-usable medium having embodied therein computer-readable program codes for 
 receiving the pageset of items, wherein each item is defined by a unique combination of values for a plurality of attributes and each attribute is associated with a respective set of possible values;    selecting an attribute not yet considered for identifying items in the pageset;    determining whether the selected attribute is useful for identifying items in the pageset;    including the selected attribute in the list if the attribute is useful for identifying items in the pageset; and    repeating the selecting, determining, and including for each of one or more additional attributes until a sufficient number of attributes is included in the list such that the items in the pageset are uniquely identified by their values for the attributes in the list.    
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein attributes to be considered for identifying items are provided in an ordered list, and wherein the attributes in the ordered list are selected for consideration based on their order in the ordered list.  
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein attributes to be considered for identifying items are attributes common for all items.  
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein each item in the pageset includes a combination of valid values for the common attributes.  
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the selected attribute is deemed as useful for identifying items if more items in the pageset may be uniquely identified with the selected attribute.  
     
     
         26 . A computer program product for forming a list of attributes for identifying a plurality of items in a pageset, comprising a computer-usable medium having embodied therein computer-readable program codes for 
 receiving the pageset of items, wherein each item is defined by a unique combination of values for a plurality of attributes and each attribute is associated with a respective set of possible values;    selecting an attribute not yet considered for identifying items in the pageset;    including the selected attribute in the list;    determining whether the list of attributes is sufficient to uniquely identify the items in the pageset; and    repeating the selecting, including, and determining for each of one or more additional attributes until a sufficient number of attributes is included in the list such that the items in the pageset are uniquely identified by their values for the attributes in the list.    
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 26 , wherein the computer-usable medium is further embodied with computer-readable program codes for 
 determining whether the selected attribute is useful for identifying items; and    removing the selected attribute from the list if the attribute is not useful for identifying items.    
     
     
         28 . In a computer system, a method for generating data models for an item master with a plurality of items, comprising: 
 classifying the items in the item master into a plurality of pagesets, wherein each item in the item master is associated with a plurality of attributes and each attribute is associated with a respective set of possible values, and wherein each pageset is defined by a unique combination of values for a first set of attributes;    determining a second set of attributes for each pageset, wherein the attributes in the second set are used to identify items in the associated pageset; and    generating data models for each pageset based in part on the associated second set of attributes, wherein the data models includes a set of tables descriptive of items in the pageset.