Browser based database manipulation

摘要

Methods, program products, and systems implementing browser-based database manipulation are described. A browser on a client device can receive a form definition that is generated based on a schema of a relational database and a layout. The schema in the form definition can specify properties of data fields. The browser can display the data fields and other components of the layout in a list. The browser can receive a drag-and-drop input, the drag-and-drop input selecting a data field or a layout component from the list and dropping the selected data field or layout component in a drop zone in a form area in the browser. The browser can determine the drop location, and use the drop location as a parameter to modify the form definition. The layout and the schema can be modified based on the modified form definition.

主权项

1. A method executed by one or more data processing devices, the method comprising:
constructing a form definition from a database schema and a layout, the form definition including a data definition defining a property of a data field and a layout definition defining one or more locations of one or more data fields in the layout; translating the form definition into a webpage for display in a browser, the webpage comprising a data field listing area and a form area, the data field listing area including a representation of the data field, the form area displaying a plurality of data fields of a data record and being formatted according to the layout; in response to receiving, from the browser, an input moving the representation of the data field from the data field listing area of the webpage to a user-specified location in the form area of the webpage, rearranging at least a portion of the plurality of displayed data fields of the data record to make room for a drop zone for placing the data field while the representation of the data field is being moved in the browser; and upon receiving an input placing the representation of the data field in the drop zone, updating the form definition, including designating, in the form definition, a location of the drop zone as a location of the data field, wherein, in the form area, a value of the data record corresponding to the data field is displayed at the location; and providing a webpage that reflects the updated form definition for display in the browser, including, upon receiving an input causing the webpage to display a new data record, displaying a value of the new data record corresponding to the data field at the location.