Automatic calculation with multiple editable fields

Abstract

A simplified transaction data management system using automatic calculation with multiple editable fields is provided. The system enables a user to manage transactions with a simplified interface, with multiple editable fields and automatic calculation of other fields based on mathematical relations with inputs that are received in any of the other editable fields. For example, either net amounts subject to a tax or gross amounts including the tax may be entered for a transaction, and the other value is automatically computed and displayed. Either value may subsequently be re-entered, and the other value may again automatically be computed and displayed, replacing the earlier input and output.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed, configure a computing system to:
 provide a user interface that displays a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a first editable field that represents a first value type and a second editable field that represents a second value type, wherein the first editable field is configured to output a value based on an input value received in the second editable field, and the second editable field is configured to output a value based on an input value received in the first editable field;   receive a first input value in the first editable field of a first one of the entries;   calculate a first output value that is displayed in the second editable field of the first entry;   receive a second input value in the second editable field of a second one of the entries;   calculate a second output value that is displayed in the first editable field of the second entry.   
     
     
         2 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first value type represented by the first editable field is the same across all of the plurality of entries. 
     
     
         3 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 2 , wherein the second value type represented by the second editable field is the same across all of the plurality of entries. 
     
     
         4 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the output values for the first and second editable fields are calculated based on a relation defined between the fields. 
     
     
         5 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 4 , wherein each entry represents a commercial or financial transaction. 
     
     
         6 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 5 , wherein the first input value is derived from either a net amount or a gross amount associated with at least one transaction type selected from among: a purchase invoice, a cash receipt, a cash payment, a price quote, a sales order, a sales invoice, a purchase order, an item receipt, a credit note, or a credit memo. 
     
     
         7 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 4 , wherein the first value type comprises a net monetary amount and the second value type represents a gross monetary amount, and the relation defines an addition of a tax applicable to the net monetary amount to determine the gross monetary amount. 
     
     
         8 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein one or more of the entries represents a sales transaction, and the relation comprises a mathematical sales tax relation. 
     
     
         9 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the mathematical sales tax relation is determined based on a sales tax code field in the user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 4 , wherein the relation comprises at least one of: a sales tax, a value-added tax, an excise tax, a tariff, a property tax, or a transfer tax. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 4 , wherein the computing system is configured to receive a user input that defines a new mathematical relation between the fields. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a table, with each row in the table comprising one of the entries, wherein the first editable fields form a first column in the table and the second editable fields form a second column in the table. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 displaying a plurality of entries, each entry representing a transaction and including a first editable field, a second editable field, and a third editable field, the third editable field representing a mathematical relation between the first and second editable fields;   for each entry, enabling an input value to be received in either one of the first editable field or the second editable field, wherein the other one of the first editable field or the second editable field that does not receive the input value becomes an output field;   for a first one of the entries, receiving an input value in the third editable field indicative of a first mathematical relation; and   for a second one of the entries, receiving an input value in the third editable field indicative of a second mathematical relation that is different than the first mathematical relation.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second mathematical relations are selected from among a sales tax, a value-added tax, an excise tax, a tariff, a property tax, or a transfer tax. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the third editable field comprises a drop down box. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each entry comprises a date field and a supplier field. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each entry comprises an account field. 
     
     
         18 . A computing system comprising:
 a processor;   an input mechanism, communicatively connected to the processor;   a monitor, communicatively connected to the processor; and   a medium, communicatively connected to the processor and readable by the processor, wherein the medium comprises executable instructions, which, when executed by the processor, configure the computing system to:
 display a plurality of transaction records, each record having a first editable field, a second editable field, and a mathematical relation between variables represented by the first and second editable fields; and 
 for each of the transaction records:
 receive a first numeric input in the first editable field; 
 respond to receiving the first numeric input in the first editable field by calculating a first numeric output for the second editable field; 
 display the first numeric output in the second editable field; 
 after display of the first numeric output in the second editable field, receive a user input that modifies the second editable field from displaying the first numeric output to displaying a second numeric input; 
 respond to receiving the second numeric input in the second editable field by calculating a second numeric output for the first editable field; and 
 display the second numeric output in the first editable field. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The computing system of  claim 18 , wherein each record represents a different commercial or financial transaction. 
     
     
         20 . The computing system of  claim 18 , wherein each record represents a sales transaction and the mathematical relation comprises a sales tax.