Methods And Systems For Extracting Related Information From Flat Files

Abstract

Methods and systems for extracting related information from multiple two-dimensional files are provided. The method includes comparing data contained in at least one field of each record of a first file to data in a related field of each record of a second file. A record is created in a temporary file for each occurrence of a match. The records of the temporary file contain the data from the matching records of the two files. Particular data is selected from the records of the temporary file according to user-specified conditions. The selected data is provided as output. The temporary file is thereafter deleted. In another embodiment of the invention, particular data is selected from the original files prior to inclusion in the temporary file. Associated systems are also provided.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A method of extracting related information from flat files, wherein each flat file includes at least one record and wherein the at least one record includes at least one field, the method comprising:
 receiving an identification of a first flat file;   receiving an identification of a second flat file;   receiving a specification of a first key field of the first flat file;   receiving a specification of a second key field of the second flat file;   receiving a specification of a first matching condition;   extracting a first data field from a first record of the first flat file and a second data field from a second record of the second flat file, wherein the first key field of the first record and the second key field of the second record satisfies the first matching condition; and   generating a first output, wherein the first output comprises the first data field and the second data field.   
   
   
       26 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein each record is specified in a single line in each flat file. 
   
   
       27 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein the at least one field has a fixed length. 
   
   
       28 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein the identification of the first flat file comprises an alias of the first flat file. 
   
   
       29 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein the specification of the second key field comprises:
 a displacement into each record of the second flat file; and   a length of the second key field.   
   
   
       30 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein the first matching condition is selected from the group consisting of less than, greater than, equal to, not-equal-to, less-than-or-equal-to, greater-than-or-equal-to, in, and not in. 
   
   
       31 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein extracting the first data field further comprises receiving a specification of the first data field, wherein the specification of the first data field comprises:
 a displacement into each record of the first flat file; and   a length of the first data field.   
   
   
       32 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein generating the first output comprises converting the first data field. 
   
   
       33 . The method recited in  claim 32  wherein converting the first data field is selected from the group consisting of:
 eliminating all duplicate data in the first data field;   selecting a largest data value in the first data field;   selecting a smallest data value in the first data field;   determining a number of distinct data values in the first data field;   computing an average of data values in the first data field; and   computing a sum of data values in the first data field.   
   
   
       34 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein the first output comprises an electronic file. 
   
   
       35 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein the first output comprises a third flat file. 
   
   
       36 . The method recited in  claim 35  wherein generating the first output further comprises:
 receiving a specification for sorting the third flat file based on a first ordering field; and   sorting the third flat file based on the first ordering field.   
   
   
       37 . The method recited in  claim 36  wherein the specification for sorting the third flat file based on the first ordering field comprises:
 a displacement into each record of the third flat file; and   a length of the first ordering field.   
   
   
       38 . The method recited in  claim 36  wherein generating the first output further comprises:
 receiving a specification for sorting in a descending fashion, wherein sorting the third flat file based on the first ordering field is in a descending fashion;   receiving a specification for sorting the third flat file further based on a second ordering field; and   sorting the third flat file further based on the second ordering field.   
   
   
       39 . The method recited in  claim 35  wherein the third flat file is generated without receiving an identification of the third flat file. 
   
   
       40 . The method recited in  claim 35 , further comprising:
 receiving an identification of a fourth flat file;   receiving a specification of a third key field of the third flat file;   receiving a specification of a fourth key field of the fourth flat file;   receiving a specification of a second matching condition;   extracting a third data field from a third record of the third flat file and a fourth data field from a fourth record of the fourth flat file, wherein the third key field of the third record and the fourth key field of the fourth record satisfies the second matching condition; and   generating a second output, wherein the second output comprises the third data field and the fourth data field.   
   
   
       41 . The method recited in  claim 40 , wherein the third flat file is deleted automatically after generating the second output. 
   
   
       42 . The method recited in  claim 40 , wherein the third flat file is kept after generating the second output, in accordance with a setting in an execution environment parameter. 
   
   
       43 . The method recited in  claim 40 , wherein the second output comprises a fifth flat file. 
   
   
       44 . A system for extracting related information from flat files, wherein each flat file includes at least one record and wherein the at least one record includes at least one field, the system comprising:
 a processor;   a storage device, on which a first flat file and a second flat file are stored; and   an output device;   wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive an identification of the first flat file; 
 receive an identification of the second flat file; 
 receive a specification of a first key field of the first flat file; 
 receive a specification of a second key field of the second flat file; 
 receive a specification of a first matching condition; 
 extract a first data field from a first record of the first flat file and a second data field from a second record of the second flat file, wherein the first key field of the first record and the second key field of the second record satisfies the first matching condition; and 
 generate a third flat file, wherein the third flat file comprises the first data field and the second data field. 
   
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein:
 each record is specified in a single line in each flat file; and   the at least one field has a fixed length.   
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive an identification of a fourth flat file;   receive a specification of a third key field of the third flat file;   receive a specification of a fourth key field of the fourth flat file;   receive a specification of a second matching condition;   extract a third data field from a third record of the third flat file and a fourth data field from a fourth record of the fourth flat file, wherein the third key field of the third record and the fourth key field of the fourth record satisfies the second matching condition; and   generate a fourth flat file, wherein the fourth flat file comprises the third data field and the fourth data field.   
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a specification of the first data field, wherein the specification of the first data field comprises:
 a displacement into each record of the first flat file; and 
 a length of the first data field. 
   receive a specification for sorting the third flat file based on a first ordering field, wherein the specification for sorting the third flat file based on the first ordering field comprises:
 a displacement into each record of the third flat file; and 
 a length of the first ordering field; and 
   sort the third flat file based on the first ordering field.   
   
   
       48 . A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of extracting related information from flat files, wherein each flat file includes at least one record and wherein the at least one record includes at least one field, the method comprising, the instructions comprising:
 instructions for receiving an identification of a first flat file;   instructions for receiving an identification of a second flat file;   instructions for receiving a specification of a first key field of the first flat file;   instructions for receiving a specification of a second key field of the second flat file;   instructions for receiving a specification of a first matching condition;   instructions for extracting a first data field from a first record of the first flat file and a second data field from a second record of the second flat file, wherein the first key field of the first record and the second key field of the second record satisfies the first matching condition; and   instructions for generating a first output, wherein the first output comprises the first data field and the second data field.