Workman Nydegger Seeley
Method, computer program product, and system for creating and displaying a categorization table
 A method, computer program product, and system for creating and displaying a categorization table is provided. A categorization table into a set of data records is created and displayed by first sorting the data records according to data record fields, typically using an index. Next, a header table is created having a number of category columns that will hold values corresponding to a number of index columns. The combinations of values across each header row will be unique and the row will also have a count value indicating the number of data records having the unique combination of category values that can be used to quickly access the first data record in the sorted index. In this manner, all of the data records can be successively accessed knowing the count value and the location of the first data record. Additionally, header rows having no data records associated therewith are used to form the headings and subheadings of the categorization table. Finally, a processor will traverse the header table and cause the categorization table to be displayed on a display means. As part of the traversal, information contained in the header table is used to calculate a fractional position of a user's location with respect to the user's particular view of the categorization table. A plurality of user columns in the categorization table allow separate and distinct views by different users into the same set of data records and using the same header table. 
Microsoft Corporation
Y G Y G G
Y10S G06F Y10S G06F G06F
additional inventional additional inventional inventional
Max Loell William H. Milind Madhukar Darren Arthur
Benson Rockenbeck Joshi Shakib