12,373,419 - Method for comparing rows of subsets of two database tables without regard to an original order of rows and columns in either database table
Abstract:An automated method is provided for comparing a first database table and a second database table with each other to produce a table of differences therebetween. The first database table and the second database table include one or more subsets of data that are intended to match each other. The first database table and the second database table each include multiple rows, each row having multiple columns. A first set of indicia is generated comprising indicia for a subset of the columns of each of the multiple rows of a subset of the first database table, and a second set of indicia is generated comprising indicia for a subset of the columns of each of the multiple rows of a subset of the second database table. The second set of indicia are generated without regard to an original order of the columns in the second database. The indicia in the first set of indicia are compared with the indicia in the second set of indicia on a row-by-row basis, wherein the comparing occurs without regard to an original order of the rows in the second database table. Any indicia in the first set of indicia that are not present in the second set of indicia are identified, thereby identifying a first set of mismatched indicia. Likewise, any indicia in the second set of indicia that are not present in the first set of indicia are identified, thereby identifying a second set of mismatched indicia. The table of differences is populated with the identified indicia. The second database table may be repaired by using at least one of the first set of mismatched indicia and the second set of mismatched indicia.