Synchronization of form fields in a client-server environment

Abstract

A database tier maintains and provides access to a database. An application tier receives and responds to requests for a form. The form includes data defining a first UI control for displaying a first value from the database and a second UI control for displaying a second value from the database that is dependent upon the first value. A client tier renders the form to show the first value in the first UI control and to show the second value in the second UI control. The client tier also detects a modification to the first value and causes an updated second value to be generated in response to detecting the modification to the first value. The updated second value is displayed by way of the second UI control. The updated second value is generated at the client tier, the application tier, the database tier, or at a combined application/database tier.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:
 displaying a first user interface control by way of a web browser application, the first user interface control configured to display a first value from a database;   displaying a second user interface control by way of the web browser application, the second user interface control configured to display a second value from the database, the second value dependent upon the first value;   detecting a modification to the first value by way of the first user interface control;   in response to detecting the modification to the first value, causing an updated second value to be generated; and   displaying the updated second value by way of the second user interface control.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a third user interface control by way of the web browser application, the third user interface control configured to display a third value from the database, the third value dependent upon the first value;   in response to detecting the modification to the first value, causing an updated third value to be generated; and   displaying the updated third value by way of the third user interface control.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the display of the second value following receiving the modification to the first value and prior to displaying the updated second value. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated second value is generated at the web browser application. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated second value is generated at a server computer. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated second value is generated without modifying the database. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein causing an updated value to be generated comprises:
 determining whether the updated second value can be generated without contacting a server computer; and   generating the updated second value at the web browser application in response to determining that the updated second value can be generated without contacting the server computer.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein causing an updated value to be generated further comprises requesting the updated second value from the server computer in response to determining that the updated second value cannot be generated without contacting the server computer. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein requesting the updated second value from the server computer comprises transmitting a request for an updated second value to the server computer, the request comprising the modification to the first value. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the request is transmitted to a database application programming interface (API) exposed by the server computer. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
 display a first user interface control by way of a web browser application, the first user interface control configured to display a first value from a database;   display a second user interface control by way of the web browser application, the second user interface control configured to display a second value from the database, the second value dependent upon the first value;   detect a modification to the first value by way of the first user interface control;   cause an updated second value to be generated in response to detecting the modification to the first value; and to   display the updated second value by way of the second user interface control.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , having further computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to remove the display of the second value following receiving the modification to the first value and prior to displaying the updated second value. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the updated second value is generated at the web browser application. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the updated second value is generated at a server computer. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the updated second value is generated without modifying the database. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein cause an updated value to be generated comprises:
 determine whether the updated second value can be generated without contacting a server computer; and   generate the updated second value at the web browser application in response to determining that the updated second value can be generated without contacting the server computer.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein cause an updated value to be generated further comprises requesting the updated second value from the server computer in response to determining that the updated second value cannot be generated without contacting the server computer. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein requesting the updated second value from the server computer comprises transmitting a request for an updated second value to the server computer, the request comprising the modification to the first value. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the request is transmitted to a database application programming interface (API) exposed by the server computer. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:
 displaying a first user interface control by way of a web browser application, the first user interface control configured to display a first value from a database;   displaying a second user interface control by way of the web browser application, the second user interface control configured to display a second value from the database, the second value dependent upon the first value;   detecting a modification to the first value by way of the first user interface control;   in response to detecting the modification to the first value, determining whether an updated second value can be generated without contacting a server computer;   generating the updated second value at the web browser application in response to determining that the updated second value can be generated without contacting the server computer;   transmitting a request for an updated second value to a database application programming interface exposed by the server computer in response to determining that the updated second value cannot be generated without contacting the server computer, the request comprising the modification to the first value; and   displaying the updated second value by way of the second user interface control.