Method and system for displaying related information from a database

Abstract

A technique for displaying information from related tables of a database in different display windows on a display screen associated with a computer system is disclosed. The different display windows are interlinked such that a selection of one or more entries in one of the display windows causes the other of the display windows to distinguishably and orderly display those entries that are related to the selection. A graphical user interface (GUI) in which a main screen is produced having the interlinked display windows is also disclosed.

1. A computer system, comprising:
 a database containing tables of data;  
 a display device, said display device having a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas displays data items from an associated table within said database; and  
 a processor unit, said processor unit operates to access said database to retrieve the data items from the corresponding associated tables and then display the retrieved data items in the display areas corresponding thereto, and to detect a selection of a displayed data item within a selected one of the display areas by a user and thereafter to automatically modify the data items being displayed in the other of the display areas in accordance with the selected data item by accessing said database to retrieve the data items in two groups, those data items that are related to the selected data item and those data items that are unrelated to the selected data item, by ordering the data items within each of the groups separately, and by respectively displaying the ordered data items for each of the groups in the other of the display areas so that the group of the data items in the other of the display areas that is related to the selected data item is displayed in a visually distinct manner as compared to the group of the data items in the other of the display areas that is unrelated to the selected data item.  
 
     
     
       2. A computer system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein those entries displayed in the other of the display areas that are related to the selected data item are displayed in a graphically distinctive manner from those entries being displayed that are unrelated to the selected data item. 
     
     
       3. A computer system, comprising:
 a database containing tables of data;  
 a display device, said display device having a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas displays data items from an associated table within said database; and  
 a processor unit, said processor unit operates to access said database to retrieve the data items from the corresponding associated tables and then display the retrieved data items in the display areas corresponding thereto, and to detect a selection of a displayed data item within a selected one of the display areas by a user and thereafter to automatically modify the data items being displayed in the other of the display areas in accordance with the selected data item by obtaining a key from the database in accordance with the selected data item, notifying the other of the display areas of the key, and updating the data items in the other of the display areas so as to visually distinguish those of the data items that are associated with the key from those data items that are not associated with the key.  
 
     
     
       4. A graphical user interface for a display screen of a computer, said graphical user interface comprising:
 a first display area having a first label and a first data window, the first data window displays a first type of data in multiple rows and columns, and the first label identifies the first type of data; and  
 a second display area having a second label and a second data window, the second data window displays a second type of data in multiple rows and columns, and the second label identifies the second type of data,  
 wherein one of a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window and a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window can be made,  
 wherein the first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window automatically causes the rows in the second data window that are associated with the first selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows, and  
 wherein the second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window automatically causes the rows in the first data window that are associated with the second selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows.  
 
     
     
       5. A graphical user interface as recited in  claim 4 ,
 wherein said graphical user interface further comprises: 
 a third display area having a third label and a third data window, the third data window displays a third type of data in multiple rows and columns, and the third label identifies the third type of data;  
 
 wherein one of the first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window, the second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window and a third selection of at least one of the rows in the third data window can be made,  
 wherein the first selection of the at least one of the rows in the first data window automatically causes the rows in the second and third data windows that are associated with the first selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows,  
 wherein the second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window automatically causes the rows in the first and third data windows that are associated with the second selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows, and  
 wherein the third selection of at least one of the rows in the third data window automatically causes the rows in the first and second data windows that are associated with the third selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows.  
 
     
     
       6. A graphical user interface as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said graphical user interface is associated with a business application program for a business,
 wherein the first label and the first data window are associated with customers of the business, and the second label and the second data window are associated with products or services of the business, and the third label and the third data window are associated with invoices of the business.  
 
     
     
       7. A method for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from a database associated with the computer system, said method comprising:
 providing the display device with a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas displays a list of data records from an associated table within the database; and  
 interlinking the display areas via the database such that a selection of certain of the displayed data records from the list in one of the display areas causes one or more data records displayed in at least one of the other display areas that are associated with the selection to be identified in a visually distinct manner, said interlinking including the operations of accessing the database to retrieve data records in two groups, those data records that correspond to the election and those data records that do not, ordering the data records within each of the groups separately, and respectively displaying the ordered data records for each of the groups in at least one of the other display areas,  
 wherein said interlinking of the display areas is achieved in accordance with at least the relationship between the associated tables of the database.  
 
     
     
       8. A method for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from tables in a database associated with the computer system, the display device having a plurality of display areas, said method comprising the operations of:
 (a) displaying entries from the database in the display areas;  
 (b) determining whether a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas has occurred;  
 (c) obtaining a key from the database in accordance with the selection;  
 (d) notifying the other of the display areas of the key; and  
 (e) updating the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually distinguish those of the entries that are associated with the key with those entries that are not associated with the key.  
 
     
     
       9. A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said updating (e) comprises:
 (e1) accessing the database in accordance with the key to obtain the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas; and  
 (e2) displaying the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas, with those of the entries that are associated with the key being distinguishably displayed from those entries that are not associated with the key.  
 
     
     
       10. A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein each of the display areas has an associated table in the database and the entries being displayed in each of the display areas are obtained from the associated table, and
 wherein the key is obtained from the table in the database that is associated with the particular one of the display areas where the selection occurred.  
 
     
     
       11. A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the display areas has an associated table in the database, and
 wherein the key is obtained from the table in the database that is associated with the particular one of the display areas where the selection occurred.  
 
     
     
       12. A method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said updating (e) comprises, for each of the other of the display areas, the operations of:
 (e1) retrieving a first set of entries from the associated table in the database that is associated with the key;  
 (e2) retrieving a second set of entries from the associated table in the database that are not associated with the key; and  
 (e3) displaying the first and second sets of entries in the corresponding display area with the first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the second set of entries.  
 
     
     
       13. A method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said updating (e) comprises, for each of the other of the display areas, the operations of:
 (e1) retrieving a first set of entries from the associated table in the database that is associated with the key;  
 (e2) sorting the first set of entries in accordance with a predetermined criteria;  
 (e3) retrieving a second set of entries from the associated table in the database that are not associated with the key;  
 (e4) sorting the second set of entries in accordance with a predetermined criteria; and  
 (e5) displaying the sorted first set of entries followed by the sorted second set of entries in the corresponding display area with the sorted first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the sorted second set of entries.  
 
     
     
       14. A method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said displaying (e5) distinguishably displays the sorted first set of entries from the sorted second set of entries by placing a graphical indicator adjacent to each of the sorted first set of entries. 
     
     
       15. A computer readable media containing program instructions for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from tables in a database associated with the computer system, the display device having a plurality of display areas, said computer readable media comprising:
 first computer readable code devices for displaying entries from the database in the display area;  
   second computer readable code devices for  determining whether a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas has occurred;  
 secondthird computer readable code devices for obtaining a key from the database in accordance with the selection;  
 thirdfourth computer readable code devices for notifying the other of the display areas of the key; and  
 fourthfifth computer readable code devices for updating the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually distinguish those of the entries that are associated with the key from those entries that are not associated with the key.  
 
     
     
       16. A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said fourth computer readable code devices comprise  containing program instructions for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from tables in a database associated with the computer system, the display device having a plurality of display areas, said computer readable media comprising:
   first computer readable code devices for displaying entries from the database in the display area;    
   second computer readable code devices for determining whether a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas has occurred;    
   third computer readable code devices for obtaining a key from the database in accordance with the selection;    
   fourth computer readable code devices for notifying the other of the display areas of the key; and    
   fifth computer readable code devices for updating the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually distinguish those of the entries that are associated with the key from those entries that are not associated with the key, wherein said fifth computer readable code comprises :  
 computer readable code devices for accessing the database in accordance with the key to obtain the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas; and  
 computer readable code devices for displaying the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas, with those of the entries that are associated with the key being distinguishably displayed from those entries that are not associated with the key.  
 
     
     
       17. A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each of the display areas has an associated table in the database, and the key is obtained from the table in the database that is associated with the particular one of the display areas where the selection occurred. 
     
     
       18. A computer readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said fourth computer program code comprise  containing program instructions for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from tables in a database associated with the computer system, the display device having a plurality of display areas, said computer readable media comprising:
   first computer readable code devices for displaying entries from the database in the display area;    
   second computer readable code devices for determining whether a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas has occurred;    
   third computer readable code devices for obtaining a key from the database in accordance with the selection;    
   fourth computer readable code devices for notifying the other of the display areas of the key; and    
   fifth computer readable code devices for updating the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually distinguish those of the entries that are associated with the key from those entries that are not associated with the key wherein the fifth computer readable code comprises  computer program code for identifying at least one of those of the entries that are associated with the key and those of the entries that are not associated with the key; and  
 computer program code for distinguishably displaying those of the entries associated with the key in the corresponding display area from those of the entries not associated with the key.  
 
     
     
       19. A computer readable media as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said fourth computer program code further comprises:
 computer program code for sorting those of the entries associated with the key with respect to the corresponding display area.  
 
     
     
       20. A computer readable media as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said fourth computer program code further comprises:
 computer program code for determining a select count indicating a number of those of the entries in the corresponding display area associated with the key; and  
 computer program code for displaying the select count on the display device proximate to the corresponding display area.  
 
     
     
       21. A computer readable media as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said fourth computer program code further comprises:
 computer program code for sorting those of the entries associated with the key with respect to the corresponding display area.  
 
     
     
       22. A computer readable media as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said fourth computer program code further comprises:
 computer program code for determining a select count indicating a number of those of the entries in the corresponding display area associated with the key; and  
 computer program code for determining a total count indicating a total number of those of the entries in the corresponding display area; and  
 computer program code for displaying the select count and the total count on the display device proximate to the corresponding display area.  
 
     
     
       23. A system for displaying data, comprising:
   a processor, for providing information to be displayed;        a display device, coupled to the processor, for displaying information, the display device comprising:      a first display area having a first label and a first data window, the first data window displaying a first type of data in multiple rows and columns, and the first label identifying the first type of data; and        a second display area having a second label and a second data window, the second data window displaying a second type of data in multiple rows and columns, and the second label identifying the second type of data,          an input device, coupled to the processor, for receiving user selection of at least one of a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window and a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window; and        wherein the first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window automatically causes the rows in the second data window that are associated with the first selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows, and        wherein the second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window automatically causes the rows in the first data window that are associated with the second selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows.     
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23 , wherein said first and second display areas further include count indicators that are displayed proximate to the corresponding display area, the count indicators indicating a number of entries being selected as well as a total number of entries being displayed in the corresponding display area. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the display device further comprises:
   a third display area having a third label and a third data window, the third data window displaying a third type of data in multiple rows and columns, and the third label identifying the third type of data,        wherein the input device receives user selection of at least one of the first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window, the second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window and a third selection of at least one of the rows in the third data window,        wherein the first selection of the at least one of the rows in the first data window automatically causes the rows in the second and third data windows that are associated with the first selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows,        wherein the second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window automatically causes the rows in the first and third data windows that are associated with the second selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows, and        wherein the third selection of at least one of the rows in the third data window automatically causes the rows in the first and second data windows that are associated with the third selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows.     
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 25 , wherein the displayed information is associated with a business application program for a business,
   wherein the first label and the first data window are associated with customers of the business, and the second label and the second data window are associated with products or services of the business, and the third label and the third data window are associated with invoices of the business.     
     
     
       27. A system for displaying data, comprising:
   a processor, for providing data to be displayed, the data being obtained from tables in a database associated with the computer system;        an input device, coupled to the processor, for receiving user selection of at least one displayed entry; and        a display device, coupled to the processor, for displaying entries from the database in the display areas, the display device having a plurality of display areas;        wherein, responsive to the input device receiving a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas,        the processor obtains a key from the database in accordance with the selection and notifies the other of the display areas of the key; and        the display device updates the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually distinguish those of the entries that are associated with the key with those entries that are not associated with the key.     
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the processor updates the entries by accessing the database in accordance with the key to obtain the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas, and the display device displays the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas, with those of the entries that are associated with the key being distinguishably displayed from those entries that are not associated with the key. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 27 , wherein each of the display areas has an associated table in the database and the entries being displayed in each of the display areas are obtained from the associated table, and
   wherein the key is obtained from the table in the database that is associated with the particular one of the display areas where the selection occurred.     
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 27 , wherein each of the display areas is associated with at least one table in the database, and wherein the processor obtains the key from the table in the database that is associated with the particular one of the display areas where the selection occurred. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the processor updates the entries by performing, for each of the other of the display areas, at least the operations of:
   retrieving a first set of entries from the associated table in the database that is associated with the key;        retrieving a second set of entries from the associated table in the database that are not associated with the key; and        signaling the display device to display the first and second sets of entries in the corresponding display area with the first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the second set of entries.     
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the processor updates the entries by performing, for each of the other of the display areas, at least the operations of:
   retrieving a first set of entries from the associated table in the database that is associated with the key;        sorting the first set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion;        retrieving a second set of entries from the associated table in the database that are not associated with the key;        sorting the second set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion; and        signaling the display device to display the sorted first set of entries followed by the sorted second set of entries in the corresponding display area with the sorted first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the sorted second set of entries.     
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 32 , wherein the display device distinguishably displays the sorted first set of entries from the sorted second set of entries by placing a graphical indicator adjacent to each of the sorted first set of entries. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the processor updates the entries by performing, for each of the other of the display areas, at least the operations of:
   retrieving a first set of entries from the associated table in the database that is associated with the key;        sorting the first set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion;        retrieving a second set of entries from the associated table in the database that are not associated with the key;        sorting the second set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion;        signaling the display device to display the sorted first set of entries followed by the sorted second set of entries in the corresponding display area with the sorted first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the sorted second set of entries;        determining a select count indicating a number of entries in the first set of entries;        determining a total count indicating a total number of entries in the first and second sets of entries; and        signaling the display device to display the select count and the total count proximate to the corresponding display area.     
     
     
       35. A method for displaying data, comprising:
   displaying, in a first display area having a first label and a first data window, a first type of data in multiple rows and columns, wherein the first label identifies the first type of data;        displaying, in a second display area having a second label and a second data window, a second type of data in multiple rows and columns, wherein the second label identifies the second type of data;        receiving one of a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window and a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window;        responsive to a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the second data window that are associated with the first selection from other of the rows; and        responsive to a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the first data window that are associated with the second selection from other of the rows.     
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
   displaying, proximate to at least one of the display areas, at least one count indicator indicating a number of entries being selected as well as a total number of entries being displayed in the corresponding display area.     
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
   displaying, in a third display area having a third label and a third data window, a third type of data in multiple rows and columns, wherein the third label identifies the third type of data;        receiving one of a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window, a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window, and a third selection of at least one of the rows in the third data window;        responsive to a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the second and third data windows that are associated with the first selection from other of the rows;        responsive to a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the first and third data windows that are associated with the second selection from other of the rows; and        responsive to a third selection of at least one of the rows in the third data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the first and second data windows that are associated with the third selection from other of the rows.     
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
   the data is associated with a business application program for a business;        the first label and the first data window are associated with customers of the business;        the second label and the second data window are associated with products or services of the business; and        the third label and the third data window are associated with invoices of the business.     
     
     
       39. A computer program product for displaying related information, comprising:
   a computer readable medium; and        computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:      displaying, in a first display area having a first label and a first data window, a first type of data in multiple rows and columns, wherein the first label identifies the first type of data;        displaying, in a second display area having a second label and a second data window, a second type of data in multiple rows and columns, wherein the second label identifies the second type of data;        receiving one of a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window and a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window;        responsive to a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the second data window that are associated with the first selection from other of the rows; and        responsive to a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the first data window that are associated with the second selection from other of the rows.       
     
     
       40. The computer program product of  claim 39 , further comprising:
   computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of:      displaying, proximate to at least one of the display areas, at least one count indicator indicating a number of entries being selected as well as a total number of entries being displayed in the corresponding display area.       
     
     
       41. The computer program product of  claim 39 , further comprising computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:
   displaying, in a third display area having a third label and a third data window, a third type of data in multiple rows and columns, wherein the third label identifies the third type of data;        receiving one of a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window, a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window, and a third selection of at least one of the rows in the third data window;        responsive to a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the second and third data windows that are associated with the first selection from other of the rows;        responsive to a second selection of at least one of the rows in the second data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the first and third data windows that are associated with the second selection from other of the rows; and        responsive to a third selection of at least one of the rows in the third data window, visually distinguishing the rows in the first and second data windows that are associated with the third selection from other of the rows.     
     
     
       42. The computer program product of  claim 39 , wherein:
   the data is associated with a business application program for a business;        the first label and the first data window are associated with customers of the business;        the second label and the second data window are associated with products or services of the business; and        the third label and the third data window are associated with invoices of the business.     
     
     
       43. The computer program product of  claim 6 , wherein the computer program code for displaying the sorted first set of entries followed by the sorted second set of entries in the corresponding display area comprises computer program code for distinguishably displaying the sorted first set of entries from the sorted second set of entries by placing a graphical indicator adjacent to each of the sorted first set of entries. 
     
     
       44. A computer system, comprising:
   a storage device, for storing tables of data;        a display device, said display device having a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas displaying data items from an associated table; and        a processor unit, operating to retrieve the data items from the corresponding associated tables and then display the retrieved data items in the display areas corresponding thereto, and to detect a selection of a displayed data item within a selected one of the display areas by a user and thereafter to automatically modify the data items being displayed in the other of the display areas in accordance with the selected data item by retrieving those data items that are related to the selected data item, and by displaying the retrieved data items in the other of the display areas in a visually distinct manner as compared to displayed data items that are unrelated to the selected data item.     
     
     
       45. The computer system of  claim 44 , wherein the processor unit further retrieves those data items that are unrelated to the selected data item. 
     
     
       46. The computer system of  claim 44 , wherein those entries displayed in the other of the display areas that are related to the selected data item are displayed in a graphically distinctive manner from those entries being displayed that are unrelated to the selected data item. 
     
     
       47. A method for displaying data on a display device, comprising:
   storing tables of data;        displaying, in each of a plurality of display areas, data items from an associated table;        retrieving data items from at least one of a plurality of tables;        displaying the retrieved data items in at least one of a plurality of display areas each of the display areas corresponding to one of the tables;        detecting a selection of a displayed data item within a selected one of the display areas by a user; and        automatically modifying the data items being displayed in the other of the display areas in accordance with the selected data item by retrieving those data items that are related to the selected data item, and by displaying the retrieved data items in the other of the display areas in a visually distinct manner as compared to displayed data items that are unrelated to the selected data item.     
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 47 , further comprising:
   retrieving and displaying at least one data item that is unrelated to the selected data item.     
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 47 , wherein displaying the retrieved data items in the other of the display areas comprises displaying entries in the other of the display areas that are related to the selected data item in a graphically distinctive manner from those entries being displayed that are unrelated to the selected data item. 
     
     
       50. A computer program product for displaying data on a display device, comprising:
   a computer readable medium; and        computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:      storing tables of data;        displaying, in each of a plurality of display areas, data items from an associated table;        retrieving data items from at least one of a plurality of tables;        displaying the retrieved data items in at least one of a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas corresponding to one of the tables;        detecting a selection of a displayed data item within a selected one of the display areas by a user; and        automatically modifying the data items being displayed in the other of the display areas in accordance with the selected data item by retrieving those data items that are related to the selected data item, and by displaying the retrieved data items in the other of the display areas in a visually distinct manner as compared to displayed data items that are unrelated to the selected data item.       
     
     
       51. The computer program product of  claim 50 , further comprising:
   computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of:      retrieving and displaying at least one data item that is unrelated to the selected data item.       
     
     
       52. A computer program product for displaying data on a display device, comprising
   a computer readable medium; and        computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:      storing tables of data;        having a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas displaying data items from an associated table;        retrieving data items from at least one of a plurality of tables;        displaying the retrieved data items in at least one of a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas corresponding to one of the tables;        detecting a selection of a displayed data item within a selected one of the display areas by a user; and        automatically modifying the data items being displayed in the other of the display areas in accordance with the selected data item by retrieving those data items that are related to the selected data item, and by displaying the retrieved data items in the other of the display areas in a visually distinct manner as compared to displayed data items that are unrelated to the selected data item; wherein the computer program instructions for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying the retrieved data items in the other of the display areas comprises computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying entries in the other of the display areas that are related to the selected data item in a graphically distinctive manner from those entries being displayed that are unrelated to the selected data item.       
     
     
       53. A graphical user interface for a display screen of a computer, said graphical user interface comprising:
   a first display area having a first data window, the first data window displaying a first type of data in multiple rows and columns; and        a second display area having a second data window, the second data window displaying a second type of data in multiple rows and columns, wherein a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window can be made and wherein the first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window automatically causes rows in the second data window that are associated with the first selection to be visually changed and for other of the rows not associated with the first selection to remain visually unchanged;        a third display area having a third data window, the third data window displaying a third type of data in multiple rows and columns,        wherein a first selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window can be made, and        wherein the first selection of the at least one of the rows in the first data window automatically causes the rows in the second and third data windows that are associated with the first selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows.     
     
     
       54. The graphical user interface of  claim 53 , wherein the graphical user interface is associated with a business application program for a business,
   wherein the first data window is associated with customers of the business, and the second data window is associated with products or services of the business, and the third data window is associated with invoices of the business.     
     
     
       55. A method for displaying data on a display device, comprising:
   displaying, in a first display window of a first display area, a first type of data in multiple rows and columns; and        displaying, in a second display window of a second display area, a second type of data in multiple rows and columns,        receiving a selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window, and        responsive to the selection, automatically causing rows in the second data window that are associated with the first selection to be visually changed and for other of the rows not associated with the first selection to remain visually unchanged; and        displaying, in a third display window of a third display area, a third type of data in multiple rows and columns; and        responsive to the selection, automatically causing rows in the third data window that are associated with the first selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows in the third data window.     
     
     
       56. The method of  claim 55 , wherein the method is associated with a business application program for a business,
   wherein the first data window is associated with customers of the business, and the second data window is associated with products or services of the business, and the third data window is associated with invoices of the business.     
     
     
       57. A computer program product for displaying data on a display device, comprising:
   a computer readable medium; and        computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:      displaying, in a first display window of a first display area, a first type of data in multiple rows and columns;        displaying, in a second display window of a second display area, a second type of data in multiple rows and columns;        receiving a selection of at least one of the rows in the first data window,        responsive to the selection, automatically causing rows in the second data window that are associated with the first selection to be visually changed and for other of the rows not associated with the first selection to remain visually unchanged; and          computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:      displaying, in a third display window of a third display area, a third type of data in multiple rows and columns; and        responsive to the selection, automatically causing rows in the third data window that are associated with the first selection to be visually distinguished from other of the rows in the third data window.       
     
     
       58. The computer program product of  claim 57 , wherein the displayed information is associated with a business application program for a business,
   wherein the first data window is associated with customers of the business, and the second data window is associated with products or services of the business, and the third data window is associated with invoices of the business.     
     
     
       59. A method for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from a database associated with the computer system, said method comprising:
   displaying a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas comprising a list of data records from an associated table within the database; and        interlinking the display areas via the database such that a selection of certain of the displayed data records from the list in one of the display areas causes one or more data records displayed in at least one of the other display areas that are associated with the selection to be identified in a visually distinct manner, said interlinking comprising:      accessing the database to retrieve those data records that correspond to the selection;        and displaying the data records in at least one of the other display areas,          wherein said interlinking of the display areas is achieved in accordance with at least the relationship between the associated tables of the database.     
     
     
       60. The method of  claim 59 , wherein interlinking the display areas further comprises:
   accessing the database to retrieve those data records that do not correspond to the selection;        and wherein displaying the data records comprises:      displaying a first group comprising the data records that correspond to the selection; and        displaying a second group comprising the data records that do correspond to the selection;          wherein the first group is displayed in a manner that is visually distinct from the second group.     
     
     
       61. A system for displaying related information, comprising:
   an input device, for receiving a user selection;        a processor, coupled to the input device, for obtaining from a database data records that correspond to the selection;        a display device, coupled to the processor, for displaying data in a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas displaying a list of data records from an associated table within the database, wherein the display areas are interlinked via the database such that, in response to the received user selection of certain of the displayed data records from the list in one of the display areas, the display device displays one or more data records in at least one of the other display areas that are associated with the selection in a visually distinct manner, and further respectively displays the data records in at least one of the other display areas,        wherein said interlinking of the display areas is achieved in accordance with at least the relationship between the associated tables of the database.     
     
     
       62. The system of  claim 61 , wherein:
   the processor obtains data records from the database data records that correspond to the selection of a database in a first group, and further obtains those data records that do not correspond to the selection in a second group, and further orders the data records within each of the groups separately; and        the display device displays the ordered data records for each of the groups in at least one of the other display areas.     
     
     
       63. A computer program product for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from a database associated with the computer system, said computer program product comprising:
   a computer readable medium; and        computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:      displaying a plurality of display areas, each of the display areas comprising a list of data records from an associated table within the database; and        interlinking the display areas via the database such that a selection of certain of the displayed data records from the list in one of the display areas causes one or more data records displayed in at least one of the other display areas that are associated with the selection to be identified in a visually distinct manner, said interlinking comprising:      accessing the database to retrieve those data records that correspond to the selection;        and displaying the data records in at least one of the other display areas,          wherein said interlinking of the display areas is achieved in accordance with at least the relationship between the associated tables of the database.       
     
     
       64. The computer program product of  claim 63 , wherein the computer program instructions for controlling a processor to perform the operation of interlinking the display areas further comprise:
   computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of accessing the database to retrieve those data records that do not correspond to the selection;        and wherein the computer program instructions for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying the data records comprise computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:      displaying a first group comprising the data records that correspond to the selection; and        displaying a second group comprising the data records that do correspond to the selection;          wherein the first group is displayed in a manner that is visually distinct from the second group.     
     
     
       65. A method for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from tables, the display device having a plurality of display areas, said method comprising the operations of:
 ( a )  displaying entries in the display areas;      ( b )  receiving a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas;      ( c )  updating the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually change those of the entries that are associated with the selection and leave those entries that are not associated with the selection visually unchanged; wherein updating  ( c )  comprises:  
 ( c 1   )  accessing a database to obtain the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas; and    
 ( c 2   )  displaying the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas, with those of the entries that are associated with the selection being distinguishably displayed from those entries that are not associated with the selection.   
   
     
     
       66. A method for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from tables, the display device having a plurality of display areas, said method comprising the operations of:
 ( a )  displaying entries in the display areas;      ( b )  receiving a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas;      ( c )  updating the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually change those of the entries that are associated with the selection and leave those entries that are not associated with the selection visually unchanged; wherein updating  ( c )  comprises, for each of the other of the display areas, the operations of:  
 ( c 1   )  retrieving, from an associated table, a first set of entries that are associated with the selection;    
 ( c 2   )  retrieving, from the associated table, a second set of entries that are not associated with the selection; and    
 ( c 3   )  displaying the first and second sets of entries in the corresponding display area with the first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the second set of entries.   
   
     
     
       67. A method for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from tables, the display device having a plurality of display areas, said method comprising the operations of:
 ( a )  displaying entries in the display areas;      ( b )  receiving a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas;      ( c )  updating the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually change those of the entries that are associated with the selection and leave those entries that are not associated with the selection visually unchanged; wherein updating  ( c )  comprises, for each of the other of the display areas, the operations of:  
 ( c 1   )  retrieving, from an associated table, a first set of entries that are associated with the selection;    
 ( c 2   )  sorting the first set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion;    
 ( c 3   )  retrieving, from the associated table, a second set of entries that are not associated with the selection; and    
 ( c 4   )  sorting the second set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion; and    
 ( c 5   )  displaying the sorted first set of entries and the sorted second set of entries with the sorted first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the sorted second set of entries.   
   
     
     
       68. The method of  claim 67 , wherein displaying ( c 5   )  comprises distinguishing the sorted first set of entries from the sorted second set of entries by placing a graphical indicator adjacent to each of the sorted first set of entries.   
     
     
       69. A system for displaying data, comprising:
   a processor, for providing data to be displayed;        an input device, coupled to the processor, for receiving user selection of at least one displayed entry; and        a display device, coupled to the processor, for displaying entries in the display areas, the display device having a plurality of display areas;        wherein, responsive to the input device receiving a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas,        the display device automatically updates the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually change those of the entries that are associated with the selection and leave those entries that are not associated with the selection visually unchanged; wherein the processor updates the entries by accessing a database to obtain the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas, and the display device displays the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas, with those of the entries that are associated with the selection being distinguishably displayed from those entries that are not associated with the selection.     
     
     
       70. A system for displaying data, comprising:
   a processor, for providing data to be displayed;        an input device, coupled to the processor, for receiving user selection of at least one displayed entry; and        a display device, coupled to the processor, for displaying entries in the display areas, the display device having a plurality of display areas;        wherein, responsive to the input device receiving a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas,        the display device automatically updates the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually change those of the entries that are associated with the selection and leave those entries that are not associated with the selection visually unchanged; wherein the processor updates the entries by performing, for each of the other of the display areas, at least the operations of:      retrieving, from an associated table, a first set of entries that are associated with the selection;        retrieving, from the associated table, a second set of entries that are not associated with the selection; and        signaling the display device to display the first and second sets of entries in the corresponding display area with the first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the second set of entries.       
     
     
       71. A system for displaying data, comprising:
   a processor, for providing data to be displayed;        an input device, coupled to the processor, for receiving user selection of at least one displayed entry; and        a display device, coupled to the processor, for displaying entries in the display areas, the display device having a plurality of display areas;        wherein, responsive to the input device receiving a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas, the display device automatically updates the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually change those of the entries that are associated with the selection and leave those entries that are not associated with the selection visually unchanged;        wherein the processor updates the entries by performing, for each of the other of the display areas, at least the operations of:      retrieving, from an associated table, a first set of entries that are associated with the selection;        sorting the first set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion;        retrieving, from the associated table, a second set of entries that are not associated with the selection;        sorting the second set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion; and        signaling the display device to display the sorted first set of entries and the sorted second sets of entries with the sorted first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the sorted second set of entries.       
     
     
       72. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the display device distinguishes the sorted first set of entries from the sorted second set of entries by placing a graphical indicator adjacent to each of the sorted first set of entries. 
     
     
       73. A computer program product for displaying data on a display device of a computer system, the data being obtained from tables, the display device having a plurality of display areas, said computer program product comprising:
   a computer readable medium; and        computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:      ( a )  displaying entries in the display areas;      ( b )  receiving a selection of one or more entries being displayed in a particular one of the display areas; and      ( c )  automatically updating the entries in the other of the display areas so as to visually change those of the entries that are associated with the selection and leave those entries that are not associated with the selection visually unchanged; wherein the computer program instructions for controlling a processor to perform the operation of updating  ( c )  comprise computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of:  
 ( c 1   )  accessing a database to obtain the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas; and    
 ( c 2   )  displaying the retrieved entries in the other of the display areas, with those of the entries that are associated with the selection being distinguishably displayed from those entries that are not associated with the selection.   
   
     
     
       74. The computer program product of  claim 73 , wherein the computer program instructions for controlling a processor to perform the operation of updating ( c )  comprise computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of, for each of the other of the display areas:    ( c 1   )  retrieving, from an associated table, a first set of entries that are associated with the selection;      ( c 2   )  retrieving, from the associated table, a second set of entries that are not associated with the selection; and      ( c 3   )  displaying the first and second sets of entries in the corresponding display area with the first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the second set of entries.     
     
     
       75. The computer program product of  claim 73 , wherein the computer program instructions for controlling a processor to perform the operation of updating ( c )  comprise computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operations of, for each of the other of the display areas:    ( c 1   )  retrieving, from an associated table, a first set of entries that are associated with the selection;      ( c 2   )  sorting the first set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion;      ( c 3   )  retrieving, from the associated table, a second set of entries that are not associated with the selection; and      ( c 4   )  sorting the second set of entries in accordance with at least one predetermined criterion; and      ( c 5   )  displaying the sorted first set of entries and the sorted second set of entries with the sorted first set of entries being distinguishably displayed from the sorted second set of entries.     
     
     
       76. The computer program product of  claim 75 , wherein the computer program instructions for controlling a processor to perform the operation of displaying ( c 5   )  comprise computer program instructions, encoded on the medium, for controlling a processor to perform the operation of distinguishing the sorted first set of entries from the sorted second set of entries by placing a graphical indicator adjacent to each of the sorted first set of entries.