Apparatus and method for defining file object attribute perspectives

1 . A method of displaying file object attributes of one or more file objects, comprising:

receiving, from a list of file object attribute perspectives, a selected file object attribute perspective specifying one or more file object attribute categories; and

displaying the file object attribute categories for the selected file object attribute perspective and the corresponding file object attributes for each file object.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

initially receiving a selection of at least one file object data source comprising one or more file objects.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein each file object attribute perspective further specifies an order of file object attribute categories, and wherein the file object attribute categories of the selected file object attribute perspective are displayed in the order specified in the selected file object attribute perspective.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

initially displaying each file object, at least one default file object attribute category, and file object attributes of each file object.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one file object attribute perspective comprises a filtering condition, and wherein only file object attributes that satisfy the filtering condition are displayed.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one file object attribute perspective comprises a sort feature, and wherein the order of display of file object attributes is determined by the sort feature.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more file objects are selected from the list comprising:

computer files, programs, directory folders, document files, text files, word processing files, spreadsheet files, database files, presentation files, graphics files, .swf files, template files, markup language files, hyperlinks, executable files, data connections, computer connections, users, servers, user groups, server groups, user profiles, calendar files, email files, network access levels, network profiles, business intelligence files, reports, templates, schedules, metrics, formulas, rules, actions, alerts, OLAP files, semantic layer objects, dashboard files, universes, universe connections, categories, dimensions, query and analysis files.

8 . A method of displaying file object attributes of one or more file objects, comprising:

selecting at least one file object data source comprising one or more file objects;

activating a file object attribute perspective selection menu comprising one or more selectable file object attribute perspectives;

selecting from the file object attribute perspective selection menu a selected file object attribute perspective specifying one or more file object attribute categories; and

displaying the file object attribute categories for the selected file object attribute perspective and the corresponding file object attributes for each file object.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein selecting further comprises defining a custom file object attribute perspective by selecting one or more file object attribute categories and storing the custom file object attribute perspective.

10 . A computer readable medium storing executable instructions to graphically display file object attributes of one or more file objects, comprising executable instructions to:

receive from a list of file object attribute perspectives a selection of a selected file object attribute perspective specifying one or more file object attribute categories; and

display the file object attribute categories for the selected file object attribute perspective and the corresponding file object attributes for each file object.

11 . The computer readable medium according to claim 10 further comprising executable instructions to receive a selection of at least one file object data source comprising one or more file objects.

12 . The computer readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein each file object attribute perspective further specifies an order of file object attribute categories, and wherein the executable instruction to display further comprises instructions to display the specified file object attribute categories in the order specified in the selected file object attribute perspective.

13 . The computer readable medium according to claim 10 , further comprising initial executable instructions to:

display each file object, at least one default file object attribute category and file object attributes of each file object corresponding to each default file object attribute category.

14 . The computer readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein at least one file object attribute perspective comprises a filtering condition and wherein only file object attributes that satisfy the filtering condition are displayed

15 . The computer readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein at least one file object attribute perspective comprises a sort feature and wherein the order of display of file object attributes is determined by the sort feature.