Managing and automatically linking data objects
A computer-implemented method for managing data objects stored in a data repository and displaying elements associated with data objects on a graphical user interface is presented. The method includes using reusable logic to provide at least one displayed input element associated with a first data object stored in the data repository. In response to user input associated with the displayed input element, the method includes generating a second data object stored in the data repository, and linking the second data object with one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the data object associated with the displayed element.
1. A method for managing data objects stored in a data repository and displaying elements associated with data objects on a graphical user interface, the method including:
using reusable logic to provide a first displayed input element associated with a first data object stored in the data repository;
in response to user input associated with the first displayed input element, generating a second data object stored in the data repository;
linking the second data object with a first set of one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the displayed input element;
automatically navigating to the first set of one or more related data objects linked to the second data object to gather information;
automatically navigating to a second set of one or more related data objects linked to the first set of one or more related data objects to gather information; and
reusing the reusable logic to provide a second displayed input element associated with the second data object in which the second displayed input element is based on the information gathered from the first set of one or more related data objects linked to the second data object and the second set of one or more related data objects linked to the first set of one or more related data objects.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein linking the second data object with one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the first displayed input element includes linking the second data object with the first data object.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein linking the second data object with one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the first displayed input element includes linking the second data object with at least one data object related to the first data object through one or more relational links.
4. The method of claim 1 , further including:
displaying on the graphical user interface one or more elements associated with one or more data objects stored in the data repository related to the second object through one or more relational links.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more elements associated with the one or more data objects include elements displaying information about which data objects are related to the first data object.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the information includes information about the second data object.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more elements associated with the one or more data objects include input elements for receiving information from a user.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the input elements provide a set of choices from which the user selects to provide the information.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the set of choices is based on the one or more data objects stored in the data repository related to the second object through one or more relational links.
10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the graphical user interface provides a browser page including the one or more elements associated with the one or more data objects.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reusable logic is reused to provide at least one displayed input element associated with a third data object stored in the data repository.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the reusable logic is used by a renderer to provide the first displayed input element associated with the first data object, the displayed input element associated with the second data object, and the displayed input element associated with the third data object to be rendered on a browser page.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input associated with the displayed input element includes a user interaction with the first displayed input element.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to user input associated with the first displayed input element, generating a third data object for storing in the data repository.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein a series of screens is used to collect the user input to generate the second data object.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data object is associated with a dedicated editor.
17. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program for managing data objects stored in a data repository and displaying elements associated with data objects on a graphical user interface, the computer program including instructions for causing a computer system to:
use reusable logic to provide a first displayed input element associated with a first data object stored in the data repository;
in response to user input associated with the first displayed input element, generate a second data object stored in the data repository;
link the second data object with a first set of one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the first displayed input element;
automatically navigate to the first set of one or more related data objects linked to the second data object to gather information; and
automatically navigating to a second set of one or more related data objects linked to the first set of one or more related data objects to gather information;
reuse the reusable logic to provide a second displayed input element associated with the second data object in which the second displayed input element is based on the information gathered from the first set of one or more related data objects linked to the second data object and the second set of one or more related data objects linked to the first set of one or more related data objects.
18. A system for managing data objects stored in a data repository and displaying elements associated with data objects on a graphical user interface, the system including:
a data storage system providing a data repository storing data objects;
at least one output device or port for providing a graphical user interface; and
a computer system coupled to the data storage system and the at least one output device or port, including circuitry to
use reusable logic to provide a first displayed input element associated with a first data object stored in the data repository,
in response to user input associated with the first displayed input element, generate a second data object stored in the data repository,
link the second data object with a first set of one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the first displayed input element,
automatically navigate to the first set of one or more related data objects linked to the second data object to gather information,
automatically navigating to a second set of one or more related data objects linked to the first set of one or more related data objects to gather information; and
reuse the reusable logic to provide a second displayed input element associated with the second data object in which the second displayed input element is based on the information gathered from the first set of one or more related data objects linked to the second data object and the second set of one or more related data objects linked to the first set of one or more related data objects.
19. A system for managing data objects stored in a data repository and displaying elements associated with data objects on a graphical user interface, the system including:
means for using reusable logic to provide a first displayed input element associated with a first data object stored in the data repository;
means for generating a second data object stored in the data repository in response to user input associated with the first displayed input element;
means for linking the second data object with a first set of one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the first displayed input element;
means for automatically navigating to the first set of one or more related data objects linked to the second data object to gather information; and
means for automatically navigating to a second set of one or more related data objects linked to the first set of one or more related data objects to gather information,
wherein the means for using reusable logic reuses the reusable logic to provide a second displayed input element associated with the second data object in which the second displayed input element is based on the information gathered from the first set of one or more related data objects linked to the second data object and the second set of one or more related data objects linked to the first set of one or more related data objects.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displayed input element associated with the second data object is determined based on one or more actions available to be performed on the second data object.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein linking the second data object with the first set of one or more related data obj ects in the data repository automatically based on the first data obj ect associated with the first displayed input element includes linking the second data obj ect with the first data object.
22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein linking the second data object with the first set of one or more related data obj ects in the data repository automatically based on the first data obj ect associated with the first displayed input element includes linking the second data obj ect with at least one data object related to the first data object through one or more relational links.
23. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the computer program further includes instructions for causing the computer system to:
display on the graphical user interface one or more elements associated with one or more data objects stored in the data repository related to the second object through one or more relational links.
24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the one or more elements associated with the one or more data objects include elements displaying information about which data objects are related to the first data object.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 , wherein the information includes information about the second data object.
26. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the one or more elements associated with the one or more data objects include input elements for receiving information from a user.
27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 , wherein the input elements provide a set of choices from which the user selects to provide the information.
28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 , wherein the set of choices is based on the one or more data objects stored in the data repository related to the second object through one or more relational links.
29. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the graphical user interface provides a browser page including the one or more elements associated with the one or more data obj ects.
30. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the reusable logic is reused to provide at least one displayed input element associated with a third data object stored in the data repository.
31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 , wherein the reusable logic is used by a renderer to provide the first displayed input element associated with the first data object, the displayed input element associated with the second data object, and the displayed input element associated with the third data object to be rendered on a browser page.
32. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the user input associated with the displayed input element includes a user interaction with the first displayed input element.
33. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the computer program further includes instructions for causing the computer system to:
in response to user input associated with the first displayed input element, generate a third data object for storing in the data repository.
34. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein a series of screens is used to collect the user input to generate the second data object.
35. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the first data object is associated with a dedicated editor.
36. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the displayed input element associated with the second data object is determined based on one or more actions available to be performed on the second data object.
37. The system of claim 18 , wherein the computer system includes circuitry to link the second data object with one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the first displayed input element includes linking the second data object with the first data object.
38. The system of claim 18 , wherein linking the second data object with one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the first displayed input element includes linking the second data object with at least one data object related to the first data object through one or more relational links.
39. The system of claim 18 , wherein the computer system includes circuitry to:
display on the graphical user interface one or more elements associated with one or more data objects stored in the data repository related to the second object through one or more relational links.
40. The system of claim 39 , wherein the one or more elements associated with the one or more data objects include elements displaying information about which data objects are related to the first data object.
41. The system of claim 40 , wherein the information includes information about the second data object.
42. The system of claim 39 , wherein the one or more elements associated with the one or more data objects include input elements for receiving information from a user.
43. The system of claim 42 , wherein the input elements provide a set of choices from which the user selects to provide the information.
44. The system of claim 43 , wherein the set of choices is based on the one or more data objects stored in the data repository related to the second object through one or more relational links.
45. The system of claim 39 , wherein the graphical user interface provides a browser page including the one or more elements associated with the one or more data objects.
46. The system of claim 18 , wherein the reusable logic is reused to provide at least one displayed input element associated with a third data object stored in the data repository.
47. The system of claim 46 , wherein the reusable logic is used by a renderer to provide the first displayed input element associated with the first data object, the displayed input element associated with the second data object, and the displayed input element associated with the third data object to be rendered on a browser page.
48. The system of claim 18 , wherein the user input associated with the displayed input element includes a user interaction with the first displayed input element.
49. The system of claim 18 , wherein the computer system includes circuitry to:
in response to user input associated with the first displayed input element, generate a third data object for storing in the data repository.
50. The system of claim 18 , wherein a series of screens is used to collect the user input to generate the second data object.
51. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first data object is associated with a dedicated editor.
52. The system of claim 18 , wherein the displayed input element associated with the second data object is determined based on one or more actions available to be performed on the second data object.
53. The system of claim 19 , wherein linking the second data object with one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the first displayed input element includes linking the second data object with the first data obj ect.
54. The system of claim 19 , wherein linking the second data object with one or more related data objects in the data repository automatically based on the first data object associated with the first displayed input element includes linking the second data object with at least one data object related to the first data object through one or more relational links.