Method and system for database browsing

1. A method of enabling browsing of database tables on a computer system, the method comprising:

providing a configuration file by a database administrator without an end user supplied configuration to automatically identify database table characteristics and to automatically develop a graphical user interface (GUI) in communication with a database, wherein the GUI display is automatically built without application programming by the end user, wherein:

the database administrator is a person distinct from the end user;

the configuration file defines a filter for displayed information;

the filter passes a predetermined database table or detail; and

the configuration file includes data that is supplemental to metadata of the database, the data including a set of soft relationships;

displaying on the GUI a main screen responsive to the configuration file, including:

a record as a row from the predetermined database table;

a related database table name, the related database table name being related to the predetermined database table;

a detail as a value in a column from the predetermined database table for the record displayed; and

external hyperlinks, the external hyperlinks created from information in the configuration file and in the database wherein the external hyperlinks are extra-referential to an other database or an internet site;

receiving a selection from the GUI of the table; and

navigating to an other main screen on the GUI in response to the selection from the GUI.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein navigation within the GUI treats the database as read-only.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the GUI is browser based.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration file includes additional fields to display when listing related rows.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration file includes a relationship having a character string including more characters than a predetermined limit of characters for a string in metadata.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising redacting from the display predetermined types of sensitive information to avoid unauthorized display of the sensitive information.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a sort order for display in the GUI.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising extracting information from a large object (LOB) for display of a field with the LOB.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration file lists a one-way relationship between database tables.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an other configuration file associated with the database.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising linking to the other configuration file in response to the selection from the GUI of a link associated with the other configuration file.

12. A system enabling database browsing, comprising:

a network;

a processor coupled to the network; and

a system memory coupled to the processor, wherein the system memory stores a computer program executable by the processor, the program including computer readable code encoded on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium, the computer readable code to:

place a graphical user interface (GUI) in selective communication with a database having one or more database tables;

select one of the database tables in response to an end user input, the selected database table containing an item chosen from records, attributes, and relationships;

selectively display the item on the GUI; and

associate a configuration file with the database, the configuration file further including instructions to automatically:

search database metadata to establish the item;

define the database tables;

select the item to display; and

define soft relationships and external hyperlinks for incorporation into the GUI wherein the configuration file is provided by a database administrator without the end user supplied configuration to identify database table characteristics and to develop the GUI in communication with the database, wherein the GUI display is built without application programming by the end user wherein:

the database administrator is a person distinct from the end user;

the configuration file includes data that is supplemental to metadata of the database;

the external hyperlinks are created from information in the configuration file and in the database; and

the external hyperlinks are extra-referential to an other database or an internet site.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein application programming includes developing a GUI display or pre-writing screens with menus.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein application programming includes developing a GUI display or pre-writing screens with menus.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the external hyperlinks are automatically programmable Uniform Resource Locator (URL) specifications in the configuration file to automatically allow the end user to navigate to an internet site that automatically applies data from the record.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the external hyperlinks are automatically programmable Uniform Resource Locator (URL) specifications in the configuration file to automatically allow the end user to navigate to an internet site that automatically applies data from the selected database table or the configuration file.