Mass change of master data via templates

Abstract

A data entry template can be associated with each of a plurality of data records that are distributed across a plurality of heterogeneous or homogeneous data sources which can optionally be data bases. The data entry template can be modified to reflect a change to a business process that was previously represented by the template. The change to the business process can be propagated to at least part of the plurality of data records associated with the template. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions to configure a processor to perform operations comprising:
 preparing a data entry template for entry of data in a plurality of data records distributed across a plurality of data sources;   associating the prepared data entry template with at least one data record in the plurality of data records;   modifying the prepared data entry template to reflect a change to a business process that was previously represented by the data entry template;   propagating the change to the business process as reflected by the modified prepared data entry template to two or more data records associated with and previously entered using the data entry template, the propagating comprising retroactively updating the two or more data records to reflect the modified prepared entry template; and   creating a new data record using the modified prepared data entry template.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the preparing comprises:
 designating a test record from among the plurality of data records;   comparing every other one of the plurality of data records to the test record;   generating a similarity pattern based on the comparing if similarities between the test record and another compared data record in the plurality of data records exceed at least one pattern significance guideline; and   repeating the designating, the comparing, and the generating until each of the plurality of records has been designated as the test record at least once.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the associating comprises:
 receiving a first value of a first attribute of the at least one data record in the plurality of data records in a user interface;   creating, based on the received first value, a value pattern for a second attribute for the at least one data record in the plurality of data records in the user interface; and   proposing, from the created value pattern, a second value for the second attribute for the at least one data record in the plurality of data records in the user interface and using the proposed second value as a second value for the second attribute, when a frequency of occurrence of the proposed second value is greater than a threshold frequency of occurrence of the second attribute.   
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the data entry template is associated with the at least one data record when the at least one data record is created, and
 wherein the associating comprises storing a parameter in the at least one data record, the parameter indicating the identity of the data entry template.   
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the modifying comprises:
 recognizing that a user has accessed at least one record in the plurality of data records and made a change to at least one value in the at least one record; and   prompting the user to update the data entry template to reflect the change to the at least one value.   
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 propagating the change to the business process to all of the plurality of data records associated with the data entry template.   
     
     
         27 . A method comprising:
 preparing a data entry template for entry of data in a plurality of data records distributed across a plurality of data sources;   associating the prepared data entry template with at least one data record in the plurality of data records;   modifying the prepared data entry template to reflect a change to a business process that was previously represented by the data entry template;   propagating the change to the business process as reflected by the modified prepared data entry template to two or more data records associated with and previously entered using the data entry template, the propagating comprising retroactively updating the two or more data records to reflect the modified prepared entry template; and   creating a new data record using the modified prepared data entry template,   wherein the preparing, the associating, the modifying, the propagating, and the creating are performed by at least one processor.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the preparing comprises:
 designating a test record from among the plurality of data records;   comparing every other one of the plurality of data records to the test record;   generating a similarity pattern based on the comparing if similarities between the test record and another compared data record in the plurality of data records exceed at least one pattern significance guideline; and   repeating the designating, the comparing, and the generating until each of the plurality of records has been designated as the test record at least once.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the associating comprises:
 receiving a first value of a first attribute of the at least one data record in the plurality of data records in a user interface;   creating, based on the received first value, a value pattern for a second attribute for the at least one data record in the plurality of data records in the user interface; and   proposing, from the created value pattern, a second value for the second attribute for the at least one data record in the plurality of data records in the user interface and using the proposed second value as a second value for the second attribute, when a frequency of occurrence of the proposed second value is greater than a threshold frequency of occurrence of the second attribute.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the data entry template is associated with the at least one data record when the at least one data record is created, and
 wherein the associating comprises storing a parameter in the at least one data record, the parameter indicating the identity of the data entry template.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the modifying comprises:
 recognizing that a user has accessed at least one record in the plurality of data records and made a change to at least one value in the at least one record; and   prompting the user to update the data entry template to reflect the change to the at least one value.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 propagating the change to the business process to all of the plurality of data records associated with the data entry template. 
 
     
     
         33 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory are configured to perform operations comprising:   preparing a data entry template for entry of data in a plurality of data records distributed across a plurality of data sources;   associating the prepared data entry template with at least one data record in the plurality of data records;   modifying the prepared data entry template to reflect a change to a business process that was previously represented by the data entry template;   propagating the change to the business process as reflected by the modified prepared data entry template to two or more data records associated with and previously entered using the data entry template, the propagating comprising retroactively updating the two or more data records to reflect the modified prepared entry template; and   creating a new data record using the modified prepared data entry template.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the preparing comprises:
 designating a test record from among the plurality of data records;   comparing every other one of the plurality of data records to the test record;   generating a similarity pattern based on the comparing if similarities between the test record and another compared data record in the plurality of data records exceed at least one pattern significance guideline; and   repeating the designating, the comparing, and the generating until each of the plurality of records has been designated as the test record at least once.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the associating comprises:
 receiving a first value of a first attribute of the at least one data record in the plurality of data records in a user interface;   creating, based on the received first value, a value pattern for a second attribute for the at least one data record in the plurality of data records in the user interface; and   proposing, from the created value pattern, a second value for the second attribute for the at least one data record in the plurality of data records in the user interface and using the proposed second value as a second value for the second attribute, when a frequency of occurrence of the proposed second value is greater than a threshold frequency of occurrence of the second attribute.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the data entry template is associated with the at least one data record when the at least one data record is created, and
 wherein the associating comprises storing a parameter in the at least one data record, the parameter indicating the identity of the data entry template.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the modifying comprises:
 recognizing that a user has accessed at least one record in the plurality of data records and made a change to at least one value in the at least one record; and   prompting the user to update the data entry template to reflect the change to the at least one value.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 propagating the change to the business process to all of the plurality of data records associated with the data entry template.