Complex data merging, such as in a workflow application
View Patent ↗Merging data for use in a workflow application may include providing a user interface that facilitates collecting information from a user such as an indication of a first document and a second document that each include multiple records, a selection of a key indicator field common to both documents, and some indication of which of the two documents is a controlling document. Without the need for the user providing programming instructions, the workflow application joins information from both documents by identifying whether any of the records from the non-controlling document has a key indicator value that matches the key value of a select record from the controlling document. Based on this identifying, the workflow application dynamically generates a merged document which it can then use to perform one or more actions.
1. A method for complex data merging, comprising:
at a computer having a workflow facility:
retrieving, at the workflow facility, multiple input components from one or more input sources accessible by the workflow facility, wherein the multiple input components comprise a first input component and a second input component, wherein the first input component contains a first sequence of information conforming to a first record type, wherein the first sequence of information relates to a first plurality of database records of results from a first prior task performed by the workflow facility, wherein the second input component contains a second sequence of information conforming to a second record type, and wherein the second sequence of information relates to a second plurality of database records of results from a second prior task performed by the workflow facility;
determining, at the workflow facility, a parent/child status between the first input component and the second input component;
identifying, at the workflow facility, one of the first input component and the second input component as a controlling input component based on the parent/child status between the first input component and the second input component;
matching, at the workflow facility, each foreign key contained in each of the first plurality of database records associated with the first input component with a corresponding primary key from the second plurality of database records associated with the second input component; and
producing, at the workflow facility, a single merged document based on a result of the matching, wherein a shape, size, format, or a configuration of the single merged document is determined at run-time based on the controlling input component.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first sequence of information comprises a sequence of invoices, with each invoice in the sequence associated with its own customer record, and wherein the second sequence of information comprises a sequence of customer records for a plurality of customers, with each of the plurality of customers associated with at least one of the customer records.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first input component and the second input component are Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the multiple input components further comprise documents, processes, and applications.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the multiple input components comprise content that is internal or external to the workflow facility.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the multiple input components comprise content that is internal to the workflow facility and content that is external to the workflow facility.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more input sources comprise software applications.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to performing the matching, determining if additional input components are needed; and
if one or more additional input components are needed, retrieving the one or more input components from the one or more input sources; or
if no additional input components are needed, performing the matching.
9. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by at least one processor to perform, at a workflow facility:
retrieving multiple input components from one or more input sources accessible by the workflow facility, wherein the multiple input components comprises a first input component and a second input component, wherein the first input component contains a first sequence of information conforming to a first record type, wherein the first sequence of information relates to a first plurality of database records of results from a first prior task performed by the workflow facility, wherein the second input component contains a second sequence of information conforming to a second record type, and wherein the second sequence of information relates to a second plurality of database records of results from a second prior task performed by the workflow facility;
determining a parent/child status between the first input component and the second input component;
identifying one of the first input component and the second input component as a controlling input component based on the parent/child status between the first input component and the second input component;
matching each foreign key contained in each of the first plurality of database records associated with the first input component with a corresponding primary key from the second plurality of database records associated with the second input component; and
producing a single merged document based on a result of the matching, wherein a shape, size, format, or a configuration of the single merged document is determined at run-time based on the controlling input component.
10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the first sequence of information comprises a sequence of invoices, with each invoice in the sequence associated with its own customer record, and wherein the second sequence of information comprises a sequence of customer records for a plurality of customers, with each of the plurality of customers associated with at least one of the customer records.
11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the first input component and the second input component are Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents.
12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the multiple input components further comprise documents, processes, and applications.
13. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the multiple input components comprise content that is internal or external to the workflow facility.
14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the multiple input components comprise content that is internal to the workflow facility and content that is external to the workflow facility.
15. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the one or more input sources comprise software applications.
16. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
prior to performing the matching, determining if additional input components are needed; and
if one or more additional input components are needed, retrieving the one or more input components from the one or more input sources; or
if no additional input components are needed, performing the matching.
17. A system for complex data merging, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by the at least one processor to perform, at a workflow facility:
retrieving multiple input components from one or more input sources accessible by the workflow facility, wherein the multiple input components comprises a first input component and a second input component, wherein the first input component contains a first sequence of information conforming to a first record type, wherein the first sequence of information relates to a first plurality of database records of results from a first prior task performed by the workflow facility, wherein the second input component contains a second sequence of information conforming to a second record type, and wherein the second sequence of information relates to a second plurality of database records of results from a second prior task performed by the workflow facility;
determining a parent/child status between the first input component and the second input component;
identifying one of the first input component and the second input component as a controlling input component based on the parent/child status between the first input component and the second input component;
matching each foreign key contained in each of the first plurality of database records associated with the first input component with a corresponding primary key from the second plurality of database records associated with the second input component; and
producing a single merged document based on a result of the matching, wherein a shape, size, format, or a configuration of the single merged document is determined at run-time based on the controlling input component.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first sequence of information comprises a sequence of invoices, with each invoice in the sequence associated with its own customer record, and wherein the second sequence of information comprises a sequence of customer records for a plurality of customers, with each of the plurality of customers associated with at least one of the customer records.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first input component and the second input component are Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the multiple input components further comprise documents, processes, and applications.
21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the multiple input components comprise content that is internal or external to the workflow facility.
22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the multiple input components comprise content that is internal to the workflow facility and content that is external to the workflow facility.
23. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more input sources comprise software applications.
24. The system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
prior to performing the matching, determining if additional input components are needed; and
if one or more additional input components are needed, retrieving the one or more input components from the one or more input sources; or
if no additional input components are needed, performing the matching.