Report Design Wizard with Dynamic XML Groups for Rapid Formatting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Creating professionally formatted financial and operational reports in business report writing software requires advanced skills and significant effort, leading to inefficiencies due to the need for separate ad-hoc and professionally formatted report solutions, which are often used sequentially, and high employee turnover can disrupt report creation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a graphical user interface to define data ranges, query databases, and convert tables to XML format, allowing seamless transition from ad-hoc reporting to professionally formatted reports through dynamic groups and customizable spreadsheets, bridging the gap between simple and advanced reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If professional report formatting features are included in the ad-hoc reporting software, then the software can produce professionally formatted reports, but the software complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reporting system into two distinct modules: an ad-hoc reporting module for quick, simple reports and a professional reporting module for formatted, published reports. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in its specific function without the complexity of combining all features in a single interface, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that acts as a bridge between the ad-hoc reporting software and professional report writing software. This intermediary enables seamless data transfer and report generation, allowing users to leverage simple ad-hoc reporting capabilities while automatically producing professionally formatted outputs without directly increasing the complexity of either system.
2Manufacturing precision
If advanced report design features are provided, then professionally formatted reports can be generated, but user skill requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the report writing software automatically performs complex formatting tasks, data transformation, and report generation based on templates. This automation eliminates the need for users to manually apply professional formatting skills, allowing non-experts to generate high-quality formatted reports through automated processes rather than manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pre-configured report templates and automated formatting rules that are prepared in advance. These templates contain pre-defined formatting standards, data mappings, and styling rules that automatically apply when reports are generated, eliminating the need for users to possess advanced formatting skills while maintaining high reporting quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate reporting software solutions are used, then both ad-hoc and professional reporting needs are met, but system integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of ad-hoc reporting software and professional report writing software into a unified integrated system. This integration allows both simple and complex reporting needs to be met within a single platform, eliminating the need for separate software solutions and the associated integration complexity while maintaining versatility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual report creation processes are used, then reports can be customized, but implementation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables rapid report customization through parameter-based configuration rather than manual design. Users can customize reports by changing parameters such as data sources, time periods, and formatting options through automated templates, which dramatically reduces implementation time from days to minutes while maintaining full customization capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of generating a user-formatted report comprises providing a first graphical user interface by which a user may define one or more ranges of measures respectively for one or more attributes of user account data, query a database to retrieve user account data falling within the one or more ranges of measures, define columns and rows of data based on the retrieved user account data, and view the columns and rows of data as a table. The method may further comprise, in response to a request received over the graphical user interface, converting the table to a file having an extensible markup language (XML) format that defines one or more dynamic groups of rows or columns corresponding respectively to the one or more ranges of measures.