Graphical XSLT Template Creation for ERP Data Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The creation of XSLT style sheets for data conversion in ERP systems is a cumbersome process requiring skilled web/XML developers, and there are limited graphical and user-friendly tools available, making it difficult for smaller organizations to extract data from ERP systems into formats usable by other applications.
Innovation Solution
A graphical template creation system that allows users to select fields from a database system, specify formatting preferences, and generate template rules for converting data from one format to another, enabling the creation of XSLT style sheets without extensive technical expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional text editors and basic hierarchical XML viewers are used to create XSLT style sheets, then the process can be completed with limited tools, but the creation process becomes very cumbersome and requires skilled web/XML developers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a graphical user interface as an intermediary between the user and the complex XSLT style sheet creation process. This GUI mediator translates user-friendly graphical selections and formatting preferences into the corresponding XSLT code, eliminating the need for users to directly manipulate complex XML-based XSLT syntax while still producing accurate transformation stylesheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manually writing and editing XSLT code with an automated graphical interface system. Instead of requiring users to mechanically type and edit complex XML syntax, the system automatically generates the XSLT style sheets based on graphical selections, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated computational processes.
2Reliability
If skilled web/XML developers are required to create XSLT style sheets, then the quality and accuracy of data conversion can be ensured, but the cost increases significantly for smaller organizations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables end-users to independently create XSLT style sheets without requiring skilled developers. The graphical interface allows users to perform data extraction and format conversion tasks themselves by making graphical selections and specifying preferences, thereby serving their own needs without external professional assistance and reducing dependency on costly expert services.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the interaction parameters from technical coding parameters to user-friendly graphical parameters. Instead of requiring users to specify complex XSLT syntax and XML structures, the system accepts high-level graphical selections and formatting preferences as input parameters, automatically translating these into the necessary technical specifications for reliable data conversion.
3Ease of operation
If graphical and user-friendly tools are developed to create XSLT style sheets, then ease of use is improved, but the device complexity and development effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single graphical interface system. The same GUI platform handles field selection, formatting preference specification, and XSLT generation, as well as providing guidance and assistance features. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate tools into one unified system, managing complexity through functional integration rather than proliferation of separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
The template creation system enables a graphical selection of one or more fields from within a database system. The template creation system identifies a source format of the received fields that can be exported from the database system. The template creation system identifies a target format readable by a document editing system. For example, the document editing system may be a word processing application that stores files in an application-specific format. The template creation system creates one or more template rules based on the identified source and target formats for converting the data from the source format to the target format. The template rules may then be stored in an XSLT style sheet.