System and method for exporting formatted transactional data from a database system

Abstract

A database and data processing system for transactional and other data allows such data to be exported in various different formats as required by other systems. As an example, the exported data can be loaded into a business's general ledger. Data can be exported in different formats, quite flexibly with easy setup of new and different export data formats for different systems.

1 . A method for exporting data in a database into a format acceptable by another application, said method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of line types, wherein said line types may be included in an export format, and wherein each of said plurality of line types is associated with a plurality of export fields, each of said plurality of export fields representing a reference to a data field in said database;    providing a user with an ability to create an export format, and to selectively include at least one of said plurality of line types into said export format; and    for each line type included in said export format, allowing said user to selectively include at least one of said associated export fields into said export format, including providing field length and position for each included export field.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further including: 
 performing an export operation on said database, using said export format to define a format for data exported from said database.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of line types include restrictions affecting a sequential ordering of said plurality of line types included in said created export format.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of line types include mutually exclusive line types.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of line types include restrictions preventing inclusion a particular one of said plurality of line types in said created export format, if another different one of said plurality of line types is included in said created export format.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said data is credit card transaction data.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one export fields includes an ability to accept global settings for certain properties, or have other settings for said certain properties that are different than said global settings.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of line types are selected from the group of File Header, Transaction Header, Transactions—Top Line, Transactions—Line Item, Tax Detail, Tax Summary, Opposite Entry Detail, Opposite Entry Summary, and File Trailer.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said export format includes one or the other of either a line type of Transactions—Top Line, or a line type of Transactions—Line Item.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said export format includes one or the other of either a line type of Tax Detail, or a line type of Tax Summary.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said export format includes one or the other of either a line type of Opposite Entry Detail, or a line type of Opposite Entry Summary.  
   
   
       12 . A system for processing data into a format acceptable by another application, said system comprising: 
 an export format, said export format defining a format for exporting data from a database, said export format including at least one line type, wherein each of said at least one line type being associated with a plurality of export fields, each of said plurality of export fields representing a reference to a data field in said database;    a user interface component, to provide a user with an ability to create and modify said export format, including the ability to selectively include said at least one line type into said export format, and for said included line type the ability to select at least one export field;    wherein said system uses said export format to export data from said database in a format defined by said included line type and said at least one selected export field.