1. In a computer system having a processor, memory, a data storage device, a display screen, interaction means for enabling a user to interact with the system, and a database of data stored in the data storage device and logically organized as tables having a plurality of rows and columns of attributes, a method for formulating a report comprising the steps of: (a) displaying on the display screen a table metaphor having rows and columns of attribute value cells, the attribute value cells containing attribute values reflective of a subset of attribute values of the database data; (b) registering, through interaction means, direct alterations to the table metaphor; (c) displaying on the display screen a revised table metaphor graphically representing a revised report format reflecting the registered direct alterations; (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) to produce a final table metaphor graphically representing a final report format; (e) determining a final query statement corresponding to the final table metaphor; and (f) running the query statement on the database to produce query output in the final report format.
1. In a computer system having a processor, memory, a data storage device, a display screen, interaction means for enabling a user to interact with the system, and a database of data stored in the data storage device and logically organized as tables having a plurality of rows and columns of attributes, a method for formulating a report comprising the steps of: (a) displaying on the display screen a table metaphor having rows and columns of attribute value cells, the attribute value cells containing attribute values reflective of a subset of attribute values of the database data; (b) registering, through interaction means, direct alterations to the table metaphor; (c) displaying on the display screen a revised table metaphor graphically representing a revised report format reflecting the registered direct alterations; (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) to produce a final table metaphor graphically representing a final report format; (e) determining a final query statement corresponding to the final table metaphor; and (f) running the query statement on the database to produce query output in the final report format. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of registering direct alterations comprises adding a new attribute column as a function of two of the table metaphor attribute columns.