Systems, methods, and media for processing a spreadsheet for storage in a database

Abstract

Generally speaking, systems, methods and media for processing a spreadsheet for storage in a database are disclosed. Embodiments may include a method for processing records of a spreadsheet by receiving a request to process a spreadsheet having a plurality of records for storage in a database. Embodiments may also include accessing a configuration file associated with the spreadsheet and, for each record of the spreadsheet, creating a new business object and populating the new business object based on the record and the configuration file associated with the spreadsheet. Embodiments may also include passing each new business object to a back-end business component for processing. The configuration file may include a name of a business object associated with a record of the spreadsheet, metadata for one or more columns of the spreadsheet, and/or a name of a back-end business component associated with the spreadsheet.

1 . A method for processing records of a spreadsheet, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request to process a spreadsheet for storage in a database, the spreadsheet having a plurality of records;    accessing a configuration file associated with the spreadsheet; and    for each record of the spreadsheet, creating a new business object and populating the new business object based on the record and the configuration file associated with the spreadsheet; and    passing each new business object to a back-end business component.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising before accessing the configuration file, generating the configuration file for the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising before generating the configuration file for the spreadsheet, receiving one or more of a name of a business object associated with a record of the spreadsheet, metadata for one or more columns of the spreadsheet, and a name of a back-end business component associated with the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating an indication of an error in passing the new business object to the back-end business component.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request to process the spreadsheet comprises receiving information relating to a user associated with the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request to process the spreadsheet comprises receiving an indication of a configuration file associated with the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration file associated with the spreadsheet comprises one or more of a name of a business object associated with each record of the spreadsheet, metadata for one or more columns of the spreadsheet, and a name of a back-end business component associated with the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the new business object comprises accessing a next spreadsheet record.  
   
   
       9 . A machine-accessible medium containing instructions effective, when executing in a data processing system, to cause said data processing system to perform operations comprising: 
 receiving a request to process a spreadsheet for storage in a database, the spreadsheet having a plurality of records;    accessing a configuration file associated with the spreadsheet; and    for each record of the spreadsheet, creating a new business object and populating the new business object based on the record and the configuration file associated with the spreadsheet; and    passing each new business object to a back-end business component.    
   
   
       10 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 9 , further comprising before accessing the configuration file, generating the configuration file for the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       11 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 10 , further comprising before generating the configuration file for the spreadsheet, receiving one or more of a name of a business object associated with a row of the spreadsheet, metadata for one or more columns of the spreadsheet, and a name of a back-end business component associated with the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       12 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 9 , further comprising generating an indication of an error in passing the new business object to the back-end business component.  
   
   
       13 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the request to process the spreadsheet comprises receiving information relating to a user associated with the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       14 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the request to process the spreadsheet comprises receiving an indication of a configuration file associated with the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       15 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 9 , wherein the configuration file associated with the spreadsheet comprises one or more of a name of a business object associated with a row of the spreadsheet, metadata for one or more columns of the spreadsheet, and a name of a back-end business component associated with the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       16 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 9 , wherein creating the new business object comprises accessing a next spreadsheet record.  
   
   
       17 . A spreadsheet record processing system, the system comprising: 
 a spreadsheet interface to access a spreadsheet having one or more records;    a configuration file database having a configuration file associated with the spreadsheet, the configuration file having information relating to processing of the spreadsheet;    a processing engine in communication with the configuration file database and the spreadsheet interface, the processing engine being adapted to create and populate a new business object based on one of the spreadsheet records and the configuration file associated with the spreadsheet; and    a back-end application interface in communication with the processing engine to pass the created new business object to a back-end business component of a back-end application.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a configuration file generator in communication with the configuration file database, the configuration file generator being adapted to generate and store a configuration file for a spreadsheet based on inputs received from a user.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the configuration file associated with the spreadsheet comprises one or more of a name of a business object associated with a row of the spreadsheet, metadata for one or more columns of the spreadsheet, and a name of a back-end business component associated with the spreadsheet.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processing engine is further adapted to receive a request to process a particular spreadsheet.