Systems and methods for dynamic querying

Abstract

A user can generate queries dynamically at runtime without having to redeploy the appropriate EJB or hard-code the query into the user application. A properties object can be generated to accept the query settings from the user. These settings can be extracted at runtime when the appropriate finder method is invoked, such that the desired query statement, such as a SQL statement, can be generated and executed against the database. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for dynamically generating a query to be executed on a database, comprising: 
 a properties object adapted to contain settings for a query as specified by a user;    a finder method for initiating the query; and    a server capable of querying the database, the server capable of receiving a call from the finder method and reading the settings from the properties object in order to generate the appropriate SQL query statements to be sent to the database.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a user interface adapted to allow a user to specify the settings in the property object.    
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a client containing the properties object and the finder method.    
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a bean associated with the database upon which the finder method can be invoked.    
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an element in a deployment descriptor for enabling dynamic querying.    
     
     
         6 . A method for dynamically generating a query to be executed against a database, comprising: 
 generating a properties object containing settings for a query;    invoking a finder method;    extracting the settings from the properties object and parsing the finder method in order to generate a query statement; and    executing the query statement on the database.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 generating a properties object occurs at runtime.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 extracting the settings from the properties object and parsing the finder method in order to generate a SQL query statement occurs at runtime.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 enabling dynamic querying by setting an element in a deployment descriptor.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 allowing the user to specify the settings for the query at runtime.    
     
     
         11 . A method for generating dynamic queries, comprising: 
 specifying settings to be used in generating the query using a user interface;    generating a properties object to hold the settings;    invoking a finder method; and    parsing the finder method and reading the settings from the property object in order to generate the query.    
     
     
         12 . A system for generating dynamic queries, comprising: 
 means for generating a properties object to hold settings to be used in generating a query;    means for invoking a finder method; and    means for parsing the finder method and reading the settings from the property object in order to generate the query.    
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium, comprising: 
 means for generating a properties object to hold settings to be used in generating a query;    means for invoking a finder method; and    means for parsing the finder method and reading the settings from the property object in order to generate the query.    
     
     
         14 . A computer program product for execution by a server computer for generating dynamic queries, comprising: 
 computer code for generating a properties object to hold settings to be used in generating a query;    computer code for invoking a finder method; and    computer code for parsing the finder method and reading the settings from the property object in order to generate the query.    
     
     
         15 . A computer system comprising: 
 a processor;    object code executed by said processor, said object code configured to: 
 generate a properties object to hold settings to be used in generating a query;  
 invoke a finder method; and  
 parse the finder method and reading the settings from the property object in order to generate the query.  
   
     
     
         16 . A computer data signal embodied in a transmission medium, comprising: 
 a code segment including instructions to generate a properties object to hold settings to be used in generating a query;    a code segment including instructions to invoke a finder method; and    a code segment including instructions to parse the finder method and reading the settings from the property object in order to generate the query.