Method and system for filtering a table

Abstract

A method for filtering a table may include creating a filter in response to a user selecting data in a first table. The method may also include applying the filter to at least one other table in response to a user selecting at least one column in the at least one other table.

1 . A method for filtering a table, comprising:
 creating a filter in response to a user using a computer system to select data in a first table, wherein the filter is useable for filtering another table different from the first table;   reducing the first table to form a reduced table based on the data selected by the user;   presenting the reduced table to the user on the computer system:   allowing the user to select additional data in the reduced table to form the filter for filtering the other table different from the first table:   presenting the filter for filtering the other table different from the first table to the user on the computer system;   allowing the user to apply the filter to the other table different from the first table; and   presenting a resulting table to the user in response to applying the filter to the other table.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the filter comprises including in the filter data contained in any cells selected by the user in the first table. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the filter comprises including in the filter data contained in an intersection of any rows and at least one column selected by the user in the first table. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the filter comprises selecting at least one column in the first table that contains the selected data to be used to filter the other table. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating the filter in response to a user selecting at least one column in the first table that contains the selected data to be used to filter the other table. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting the filter in a predetermined format. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing means to edit any data in the filter. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying the filter to the at least one selected column in the other table; and   presenting results of applying the filter.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein presenting the results comprises presenting any rows in the other table with data in the at least one selected column corresponding to data in the filter. 
   
   
       10 . A system for filtering a table, comprising:
 a processor,   a table filtering application operable on the processor for a user to visually filter a second table different from the first table using criteria from a first table, wherein the table filtering application comprises:
 a module to create a filter in response to the user selecting data in the first table; 
 a module to reduce the first table to form a reduced table based on the data selected by the user; 
 a module to allow the user to select additional data in the reduced table to form the filter for filtering the second table different from the first table; 
 a module to present the filter for filtering the second table different from the first table to the user on the computer system; 
 a module to allow the user to apply the filter to the second table different from the first table; and 
   an output device to present a resulting table to the user in response to applying the filter to the second table.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the table filtering application comprises a data structure to facilitate selecting cells in the first table that contain data to be used to form the filter. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a data structure to create the filter as a column filter in response to selecting at least one column in the first table that contains selected data to be used to filter the second table. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a data structure to apply the column filter to at least one column in the second table and to present the results of applying the filter. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a data structure to present any rows in the second table with data in the at least one column corresponding to data in the column filter. 
   
   
       15 . A computer program product for filtering a table, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therein, the computer usable medium comprising:
 computer usable program code configured to create a filter in response to a user selecting data in a first table, wherein the filter is useable for filtering another table different from the first table; 
 computer usable program code configured to reduce the first table to form a reduced table based on the data selected by the user; 
   computer usable program code configured to present the reduced table to the user on the computer system;   computer usable program code configured to allow the user to select additional data in the reduced table to form the filter for filtering the other table different from the first table;   computer usable program code configured to present the filter for filtering the other table different from the first table to the user on the computer system;   computer usable program code configured to allow the user to apply the filter to the other table different from the first table; and   computer usable program code configured to present a resulting table to the user in response to applying the filter to the other table.   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising computer usable program code configured to create the filter in response to the user selecting any cells in the first table that contain data to be used to form the filter. 
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising computer usable program code configured to include in the filter data contained in an intersection of any rows and at least one column selected by the user in the first table. 
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising computer usable program code configured to present the filter in a predetermined format. 
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising computer usable program code configured to present any rows in the at least one table with data in the at least one column corresponding to data in the filter. 
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising computer usable program code configured to allow the user to edit the filter before applying the filter to the other table different from the first table.