Table column spanning
View Patent ↗Disclosed are a method and system for grouping columns of data into different levels for subsequent multiple level operations. The method comprises the steps of providing sub-columns within a single table column, said table columns and each of the sub-columns having an associated header; and using multiple dummy tables and displaying them separately on different locations, one of the dummy tables including one or more of the associated headers. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses a tool, referred to as the Jtable class, which is used to display and edit regular two-dimensional tables of cells. The present invention is able to support multilevel headers and column spanning by using multiple tables and displaying them separately. Preferably, this is done using another tool, GridBagLayout, which is associated with Jpanel tool.
1. A method of re-displaying a display table having a grid of columns and rows, at least one of the columns having a plurality of sub-columns, each of the columns having a main header, and each of the sub-columns having a sub-header, said headers and said sub-headers forming first and second levels of headers, and wherein each of the columns and sub-columns includes a plurality of data cells aligned with a respective one of the main headers or sub-headers of the display table, the method comprising the steps of:
dividing the entire display table into a multitude of separately moveable dummy tables, including the steps of:
i) forming a first of the dummy tables including all of the main headers, wherein said main headers are separately moveable within the first dummy table,
ii) forming a second of the dummy tables including all of said sub-headers, wherein the sub-headers are separately moveable within the second dummy table, and
iii) forming a third of the dummy tables including all of the columns of the display table, wherein the columns are separately moveable within the third dummy table;
positioning the first dummy table at a first location on a display screen, and moving the main headers within the first dummy table;
moving the second dummy table to a second location on the display screen adjacent to the first dummy table, with the sub-headers of the second dummy table aligned with the main header of the colunm that includes the sub-columns having said sub-headers; and
moving the third dummy table to a third location on the display screen adjacent the second dummy table, including the step of moving each of the columns of the third dummy table to a position aligned with the main header or sub-header of said each column of the third dummy table;
wherein said first, second and third dummy tables are displayed together at the same time and side-by-side at different locations on the same display screen and form a single composite table on said display screen.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
each of the columns and sub-columns of the display table has an identifying display index number;
each of the columns of the third dummy table has a respective one data location index number; and
the step of moving the third dummy table includes the steps of:
i) assigning each of the data location index numbers to one of the display index numbers, and
ii) putting each of the columns of the third dummy table into the column or sub column of the display table having the display index number to which the data location index number of said each column of the third dummy table has been assigned.
3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the displaying step includes the step of contiguously displaying the first, second and third dummy tables.
4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first dummy table includes only the main headers of the table columns: and
the second dummy table includes only the sub-headers of the sub-columns.
5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the third dummy table includes only said multitude of data cells.