Grouping data in a database

Abstract

According to embodiments of the present invention, two or more attributes that are included in a plurality of attributes are aggregated into a group defined by a first data definition language syntax. The first data definition language syntax defines the group as having a groupID and one or more of an attribute definition defined in a comma-separated list and a group definition. The attribute definition is defined by a second data definition syntax. The first data definition language syntax includes the second data definition language syntax. The first data definition language syntax is structured in a manner to allow a database operation associated with the group to be applied to all attributes and/or groups included therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product comprising:
 a machine readable storage device including a non-transitory storage medium;   computer code stored on the non-transitory storage medium including instructions for causing a processor(s) set to perform operations including the following:   providing a table in a relational database, with the table comprising a plurality of columns with each column including a column name that describes an attribute corresponding to attribute values of the column;   defining a group of columns;   receiving user input;   responsive to the user input, adding, by machine logic, a first column of the plurality of columns to the group;   adding a second column of the plurality of columns to the group based on predetermined selection criteria; and   receiving an SQL (Structured Query Language) statement using group names corresponding to the group of columns to perform actions on the columns of the group;   wherein the predetermined selection criteria is based upon at least one of the following characteristics of the second column: text contained in a second column name and/or the type of data stored in the second column.