Importing database data to a non-database program

1 . A method of importing data to a non-database program from a database program comprising:

requesting to import data to a non-database program from the database program;

identifying the storage location of the data to be imported to the non-database program;

identifying the name of the database in which data to be imported to the non-database program is stored;

identifying a SQL select statement that obtains the data to be imported to the non-database program from the database;

creating an XML template that includes the identified storage location, the identified database name, the identified SQL select statement and the database columns to be imported; and

communicating the XML template to the non-database program.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the SQL select statement only returns data to which the requestor has permission.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying the requested data in a non-database program.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising allowing formatting information from the non-database program to be added to the XML template.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising allowing the data displayed in the non-database program to be edited without affecting the underlying data in the database.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising adding additional statements to the XML template to ensure the data from the database is the most recent data.

7 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable modules for execution on a computer comprising:

requesting to import data to a non-database program from the database program;

identifying the storage location of the data to be imported to the non-database program;

identifying the name of the database in which data to be imported to the non-database program is stored;

identifying a SQL select statement that obtains the data to be imported to the non-database program from the database wherein the SQL select statement only returns data to which the requestor has permission;

creating an XML template that includes the identified storage location, the identified database name, the identified SQL select statement and the database columns to be imported;

communicating the XML template to the non-database program; and

displaying the requested data in a non-database program.

8 . The computer readable medium of claim 7 , flurther comprising allowing formatting information from the non-database program to be added to the XML template.

9 . The computer readable medium of claim 7 , fuirther comprising allowing the data displayed in the non-database program to be edited without affecting the underlying data in the database.

10 . The computer readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising adding additional statements to the XML template to ensure the data from the database is the most recent data.

11 . A computer comprising:

a processing unit for executing instructions;

a networking device coupled to processing unit for coupling data transmitted between the computer and a network;

a memory for storing computer executable instructions, coupled to the processing unit, the computer executable instructions for executing a method comprising:

requesting to import data to a non-database program from the database program;

identifying the storage location of the data to be imported to the non-database program;

identifying the name of the database in which data to be imported to the non-database program is stored;

identifying a SQL select statement that obtains the data to be imported to the non-database program from the database wherein the SQL select statement only returns data to which the requestor has permission;

creating an XML template that includes the identified storage location, the identified database name, the identified SQL select statement and the database columns to be imported;

allowing formatting information from the non-database program to be added to the XML template;

communicating the XML template to the non-database program; and

displaying the requested data in a non-database program.

12 . The computer of claim 11 , further comprising computer executable instructions for allowing the data displayed in the non-database program to be edited without affecting the underlying data in the database.

13 . The computer of claim 11 , further comprising computer executable instructions for adding additional statements to the XML template to ensure the data from the database is the most recent data.