Mini-Form View for Data Records

Abstract

Methods, program products, and systems for mini-form view of data records are described. Each data records can be formatted according to a layout. The layout can define an arrangement of various data fields for display. To display multiple data records, an image can be created for each formatted data record. Each image can be a snapshot of the formatted data record. The image can have a size that is smaller than the size of the layout. The arrangement of the data fields can be preserved in the image. Multiple images of formatted data records can be displayed in a single window. By displaying formatted data records in images, the “look and feel” in the layout of each data record can be preserved, even when multiple records are displayed. The mini-form view can display data records from multiple shared databases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, from a formatted view of a data record, a user input for configuring a display property of a representation of the data record, the data record being stored in a database and including one or more data fields:   providing for display a configuration panel overlaid on the representation of the data record, the configuration panel being transparent or semi-transparent, wherein the representation of the data record is visible through the configuration panel, and wherein the configuration panel includes one or more label fields, each label field corresponding to a data field of the represented data record;   receiving, through at least one of the one or more label fields in the configuration panel, a selection input selecting a corresponding data field; and   in response to the selection input, designating content stored in the corresponding data field as the display property for presenting the data record in the formatted view.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display property is a display label. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration panel covers the representation of the data record and fully or partially covers one or more representations each representing another data record, the one or more representations being visible through the transparent or semi-transparent configuration panel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving a closing input closing the configuration panel, the closing input comprising one of:
 a click or touch input on the configuration panel, or   a click or touch input outside of the configuration panel.   
     
     
         5 . A method comprising:
 presenting a plurality of items for display in a carousel display pattern, wherein the items are arranged in a circle, at least a portion of the items as arranged in the circle being visible on a display device;   receiving a navigation input through the visible items, the navigation input comprising a dragging motion on at least one visible item to turn the circle; and   in response to the navigation input, animating the visible items to simulate a turning motion around a center of the circle.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each item includes an image of a formatted data records. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the navigation input includes a click and drag of a mouse device or pointing device on a touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a formatted view of a data record, a user input for configuring a display property of a representation of the data record, the data record being stored in a database and including one or more data fields: 
 providing for display a configuration panel overlaid on the representation of the data record, the configuration panel being transparent or semi-transparent, wherein the representation of the data record is visible through the configuration panel, and wherein the configuration panel includes one or more label fields, each label field corresponding to a data field of the represented data record; 
 receiving, through at least one of the one or more label fields in the configuration panel, a selection input selecting a corresponding data field; and 
 in response to the selection input, designating content stored in the corresponding data field as the display property for presenting the data record in the formatted view. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the display property is a display label. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the configuration panel covers the representation of the data record and fully or partially covers one or more representations each representing another data record, the one or more representations being visible through the transparent or semi-transparent configuration panel. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , the operations comprising receiving a closing input closing the configuration panel, the closing input comprising one of:
 a click or touch input on the configuration panel, or   a click or touch input outside of the configuration panel.   
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 presenting a plurality of items for display in a carousel display pattern, wherein the items are arranged in a circle, at least a portion of the items as arranged in the circle being visible on a display device; 
 receiving a navigation input through the visible items, the navigation input comprising a dragging motion on at least one visible item to turn the circle; and 
 in response to the navigation input, animating the visible items to simulate a turning motion around a center of the circle. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each item includes an image of a formatted data records. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the navigation input includes a click and drag of a mouse device or pointing device on a touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory storage device storing instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a formatted view of a data record, a user input for configuring a display property of a representation of the data record, the data record being stored in a database and including one or more data fields:   providing for display a configuration panel overlaid on the representation of the data record, the configuration panel being transparent or semi-transparent, wherein the representation of the data record is visible through the configuration panel, and wherein the configuration panel includes one or more label fields, each label field corresponding to a data field of the represented data record;   receiving, through at least one of the one or more label fields in the configuration panel, a selection input selecting a corresponding data field; and   in response to the selection input, designating content stored in the corresponding data field as the display property for presenting the data record in the formatted view.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the display property is a display label. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the configuration panel covers the representation of the data record and fully or partially covers one or more representations each representing another data record, the one or more representations being visible through the transparent or semi-transparent configuration panel. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory storage device of  claim 15 , the operations comprising receiving a closing input closing the configuration panel, the closing input comprising one of:
 a click or touch input on the configuration panel, or   a click or touch input outside of the configuration panel.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory storage device storing instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 presenting a plurality of items for display in a carousel display pattern, wherein the items are arranged in a circle, at least a portion of the items as arranged in the circle being visible on a display device;   receiving a navigation input through the visible items, the navigation input comprising a dragging motion on at least one visible item to turn the circle; and   in response to the navigation input, animating the visible items to simulate a turning motion around a center of the circle.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory storage device of  claim 19 , wherein each item includes an image of a formatted data records. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory storage device of  claim 19 , wherein the navigation input includes a click and drag of a mouse device or pointing device on a touch-sensitive display.