Configurable column display of information at a web client

1. A method of displaying tabular data, comprising:

receiving a definition of adjustable user settings from a user;

receiving input from the user after the receiving the definition of the adjustable user settings;

retrieving data based on the input;

a processor of a computer generating a tabular display of the data according to default settings and the user settings; and

transmitting the tabular display to the user,

wherein:

the default settings comprise a column name, a default display column order, a default sort column order, and a default sort order, and

the user settings comprise a user display column order, a user sort column order, and a user sort order.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving, the retrieving, the generating, and the transmitting are performed on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the receiving, the retrieving, the generating, and the transmitting are performed by a service provider.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating, maintaining and/or supporting a computer infrastructure that performs the receiving, the retrieving, the generating, and the transmitting.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input is a database query.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user settings are adjustable using a graphical user interface (GUI) that is separate from a display window having the tabular display, and further comprising:

receiving a request to adjust the user settings;

as a result of the receiving the request, presenting the user with the GUI for editing the user settings;

receiving data defining the user settings via the GUI; and

storing the user settings in a file based on the received data;

wherein the generating the tabular display is performed using the user settings stored in the file.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user settings override corresponding default settings.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user settings comprise:

a first group of user settings that define a first configuration; and

a second group of user settings that define a second configuration,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either the first group of user settings or the second group of user settings.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the user is one of a plurality of users, and

each of the plurality of users shares the same default settings and has unique user settings.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the tabular display from a server application to a client application.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the default settings comprise:

a first group of default settings that define a first configuration; and

a second group of default settings that define a second configuration,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either the first group of default settings or the second group of default settings.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the user settings comprise:

a first group of user settings that correspond to the first group of default settings; and

a second group of user settings that correspond to the second group of default settings,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either: the first group of default settings and the first group of user settings, or the second group of default settings and the second group of user settings.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not transitory signal per se, and the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive a definition of adjustable user settings from the user;

receive input from the user after the receiving the definition of the adjustable user settings;

retrieve data based on the input;

generate a tabular display of the data according to default settings and the user settings; and

transmit the tabular display to the user,

wherein:

the default settings comprise a column name, a default display column order, a default sort column order, and a default sort order, and

the user settings comprise a user display column order, a user sort column order, and a user sort order.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the input is a database query.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the user settings are adjustable using a graphical user interface (GUI) that is separate from a display window having a tabular display, and further comprising:

receiving a request to adjust the user settings;

as a result of the receiving the request, presenting the user with the GUI for editing the user settings;

receiving data defining the user settings via the GUI; and

storing the user settings in a file based on the received data;

wherein the generating the tabular display is performed using the user settings stored in the file.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the user settings override corresponding default settings.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the user settings comprise:

a first group of user settings that define a first configuration; and

a second group of user settings that define a second configuration,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either the first group of user settings or the second group of user settings.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein:

the user is one of a plurality of users, and

each of the plurality of users shares the same default settings and has unique user settings.

19. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the tabular display from a server application to a client application.

20. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the default settings comprise:

a first group of default settings that define a first configuration; and

a second group of default settings that define a second configuration,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either the first group of default settings or the second group of default settings.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the user settings comprise:

a first group of user settings that correspond to the first group of default settings; and

a second group of user settings that correspond to the second group of default settings,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either: the first group of default settings and the first group of user settings, or the second group of default settings and the second group of user settings.

22. A method for deploying an application for displaying information from a website in tabular form, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to:

receive a definition of adjutsble user settings from a user;

receive input from a user after receiving the definition of the adjustable user settings;

retrieve data based on the input;

generate a tabular display of the data according to default settings and the user settings; and

transmit the tabular display to the user,

wherein:

the default settings comprise a column name, a default display column order, a default sort column order, and a default sort order, and

the user settings comprise a user display column order, a user sort column order, and a user sort order.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the input is a database query.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the user settings are adjustable using a graphical user interface (GUI) that is separate from a display window having the tabular display, and further comprising:

receiving a request to adjust the user settings;

as a result of the receiving the request, presenting the user with the GUI for editing the user settings;

receiving data defining the user settings via the GUI; and

storing the user settings in a file based on the received data;

wherein the generating the tabular display is performed using the user settings stored in the file.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the user settings override corresponding default settings.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the user settings comprise:

a first group of user settings that define a first configuration; and

a second group of user settings that define a second configuration,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either the first group of user settings or the second group of user settings.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein:

the user is one of a plurality of users, and

each of the plurality of users shares the same default settings and has unique user settings.

28. The method of claim 22 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the tabular display from a server application to a client application.

29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the default settings comprise:

a first group of default settings that define a first configuration; and

a second group of default settings that define a second configuration,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either the first group of default settings or the second group of default settings.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the user settings comprise:

a first group of user settings that correspond to the first group of default settings; and

a second group of user settings that correspond to the second group of default settings,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either: the first group of default settings and the first group of user settings, or the second group of default settings and the second group of user settings.

31. A system, comprising:

a computer having a processor;

a server application running on the computer and structured and arranged to: receive a definition of adjustable user settings from a user; receive input from the user after the receiving the definition of the adjustable user settings; retrieve data based on the input; generate a tabular display of the data according to default settings and the user settings of the user; and transmit the tabular display to the user; and

a client application structured and arranged to display the tabular display,

wherein:

the default settings comprise a column name, a default display column order, a default sort column order, and a default sort order, and

the user settings comprise a user display column order, a user sort column order, and a user sort order.

32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the input is a database query.

33. The system of claim 31 , wherein the user settings are adjustable using a graphical user interface (GUI) that is separate from a display window having the tabular display, and further comprising:

receiving a request to adjust the user settings;

as a result of the receiving the request, presenting the user with the GUI for editing the user settings;

receiving data defining the user settings via the GUI; and

storing the user settings in a file based on the received data;

wherein the generating the tabular display is performed using the user settings stored in the file.

34. The system of claim 31 , wherein the user settings override corresponding default settings.

35. The system of claim 31 , wherein the user settings comprise:

a first group of user settings that define a first configuration; and

a second group of user settings that define a second configuration,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either the first group of user settings or the second group of user settings.

36. The system of claim 31 , wherein:

the user is one of a plurality of users, and

each of the plurality of users shares the same default settings and has unique user settings.

37. The system of claim 31 , wherein the client application comprises a browser.

38. The system of claim 31 , wherein the default settings comprise:

a first group of default settings that define a first configuration; and

a second group of default settings that define a second configuration,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either the first group of default settings or the second group of default settings.

39. The system of claim 38 , wherein the user settings comprise:

a first group of user settings that correspond to the first group of default settings; and

a second group of user settings that correspond to the second group of default settings,

wherein the generating is performed according to a chosen one of either: the first group of default settings and the first group of user settings, or the second group of default settings and the second group of user settings.

40. A system comprising:

a server having a processor and a database containing data associated with default settings and predefined adjustable user settings, wherein the default settings comprise a column name, a default display column order, a default sort column order, and a default sort order, and the user settings comprise a user display column order, a user sort column order, and a user sort order, and

at least one of a hardware and a software component for receiving input from a user, retrieving data based upon the input, generating a tabular display, and transmitting the tabular display to the user,

wherein the system generates the tabular display according to the default settings and the user settings;

wherein the user settings are adjustable using a graphical user interface (GUI) that is separate from a display window having the tabular display;

wherein the system is further configured to:

receive a request to adjust the user settings;

as a result of the receiving the request, present the user with the GUI for editing the user settings;

receive data defining the user settings via the GUI, wherein the data includes the user display column order, the user sort column order, and the user sort order; and

store the user settings based on the received data; and

wherein the system is further configured to generate the tabular display using the stored user settings.