Integrating line-of-business application data with documents

Abstract

Merging data from LOB applications into document templates within productivity applications without the need for custom programming is provided. A document template within a productivity application is provided, and an XML schema is attached to the document template. The XML schema allows the LOB application data to be modeled generically using a business object paradigm. Meta-data is accessed from the LOB application. Using the attached XML schema, a user may mark-up the document template with schema nodes corresponding to the meta-data from the LOB application. Data from the LOB application may then be accessed and merged into the schema nodes, creating a data-merged document. Data may be further interactively merged from the LOB application into the data-merged document.

1 . A method, implemented at least in part by a computing device, for generating a data-merged document by integrating data from a line-of-business (LOB) application with a document template within a productivity application, the method comprising:
 capturing business data, using the LOB application, wherein the LOB application stores captured business data in a database;   accessing meta-data from the LOB application;   attaching an XML schema to the document template, wherein the XML schema provides a generic business object schema for modeling the data from the LOB application as one or more business objects and one or more business object properties based on the meta-data from the LOB application;   mapping one or more schema nodes to the document template based on user input, the one or more schema nodes corresponding to the meta-data from the LOB application;   accessing stored business data from the LOB application;   merging the stored business data into the document template based on the one or more schema nodes mapped to the document template to create the data-merged document; and   maintaining an active link between the data-merged document and the LOB application to allow for interactive merging.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the productivity application is selected from the group consisting of a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, and an electronic mail application. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the LOB application exposes the meta-data in an XML format. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mapping one or more schema nodes to the document template comprises providing a context-sensitive user interface for mapping schema nodes to the document template. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein accessing stored business data from the LOB application comprises:
 formulating a data query based on the one or more schema nodes mapped to the document template;   sending the data query to the LOB application; and   receiving the stored business data from the LOB application.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein formulating a data query comprises:
 inquiring the document template for the one or more schema nodes mapped to the document template; and   generating a map based on the one or more schema nodes; and   formulating the data query based on the map.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein merging the stored business data into the document template comprises:
 traversing the map in conjunction with the stored business data from the LOB application; and   copying the stored business data from the LOB application into the schema nodes.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a current schema node within the data-merged document;   accessing stored business data from the LOB application based on the current schema node; and   merging one or more instances of the stored business data from the LOB application into the current schema node based on a user selection.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein merging one or more instances of the stored business data from the LOB application into the current schema node comprises providing a context-sensitive user interface displaying the stored business data from the LOB application. 
     
     
         10 . In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method of interactively merging data from a line-of-business (LOB) application into a document template, the document template having one or more schema nodes, the method comprising:
 determining a current location within the document template;   querying meta-data from the LOB application based on the current location within the document template;   displaying a context-sensitive user interface on the display based on the meta-data from the LOB application, the context-sensitive user interface comprising a context area indicating a current business object associated with the current location within the document template;   receiving, via the user interface selection device, a user selection of one or more related business objects and one or more business object properties associated with the current business object;   creating a data-merged document by mapping the schema node to the current location within the document template based on the user selection; and   maintaining an active link between the data-merged document and the LOB application to allow for interactive merging.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein displaying a context-sensitive user interface comprises:
 determining a current business object associated with the current location within the document template;   determining one or more related business objects having a relationship with the current business object;   determining one or more business object properties associated with the current business object.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving a user selection comprises receiving a user selection of one of the related business objects, and mapping the scheme node to the current location within the document template comprises mapping a business object schema node to the current location based on the selected related business object. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving a user selection comprises receiving a user selection of one of the business object properties, and mapping the schema node to the current location within the document template comprises mapping a business object property schema node to the current location based on the selected business object property. 
     
     
         14 . A computerized method for interactively merging data from a line-of-business (LOB) application into a document template, the document template having one or more schema nodes, the method comprising:
 determining a current schema node within the document template;   determining a business object associated with the current schema node;   displaying a context-sensitive user interface on the display based on the business object associated with the current schema node, the context-sensitive user interface comprising data from the LOB application corresponding to the business object associated with the current schema node;   receiving, via the user interface selection device, a user selection of one or more instances of the data from the LOB application;   creating a data-merged document by copying the one or more instances of the data from the LOB application to the current schema node within the document template based on the user selection; and   maintaining an active link between the data-merged document and the LOB application to allow for interactive merging.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein displaying a context-sensitive user interface comprises:
 tracing an ancestor hierarchy of the business object to a top-level business object;   determining if the ancestor hierarchy comprises a one-to-many relationship;   and displaying the context-sensitive user interface based.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ancestor hierarchy is determined not to comprise a one-to-many relationship, and the user interface comprises a business object query form based on the business object associated with the current schema node. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ancestor hierarchy is determined to comprise a one-to-many relationship, and the user interface comprises a tree control showing all business objects in the ancestor hierarchy. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein copying the one or more instances of the data from the LOB application to the current schema node within the document template comprises creating a repeating document element and copying the one or more instances of data into the repeating document element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the repeating document element comprises at least one of a table row and a list bullet.