International Business Machines Corporation

Martin F Maldonado

Arthur Reginald Greef

Steffen Michael Fohn

The method includes steps for creating and or modifying the organizational structure and data content of a frame-based, hierarchical product database with the use of tabularly arranged product data. The method features steps for enabling determination of a hierarchical database organizational structure capable of accommodating importation of tabular product data. Additionally, the method feature steps for facilitating either modification of an existing organizational structure where the database already exists, or, creation of a new frame-based, hierarchical organizational structure suitable for receiving the tabular data by generating an entirely new, original structure where none is available. In a first preferred form, the method is implemented in computer software and features program steps for enabling a database administrator, or the like, to determine what frame-based, hierarchical organizational structure would be needed to enable importation of tabular product data, the term &ldquo;product&rdquo; embracing both goods and or services. The method features steps for displaying to the database administrator the tabularly organized product data, and, where available, the organizational structure of an existing frame-based, hierarchical database. In a second preferred form, the method features software steps for automatically generating the required frame-based, hierarchical organizational structure where the tabular data includes the product record category and subcategory information necessary to define the organizational structure required to accommodate importation of the tabular data. Further, the method includes software steps for automatically associating the tabular product record information at the lowest level of the frame-based, organizational structure generated.

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Kennesaw, GA, United States of America

Martin F Maldonado