A system and method for automatically processing and tracking the processing of requests are described. Instructions for processing requests of interest are received. In a preferred embodiment, the requests are product change notices (PCNs). A request from a source of requests is received. Relevant information is extracted from the received request. An entry in a database is created, and the extracted information is stored in the database entry. The stored information is validated to determine if the received request is valid, and the received request is rejected if the stored information is not valid. If the stored information is valid, then additional information related to the request is retrieved from a source of additional information, and this retrieved information is stored in the database entry. Messages are sent to other users involved with processing the received request. Each message includes the database entry and optionally a request for a response. Responses from the other users are received and stored in the database entry. The responses are parsed for an indication of whether further processing is required. Any further processing is performed in accordance with instructions contained in the responses, and results of such processing is stored in the database entry.

A machine and methods for making and using the same, involve a digital electrical information processing system to make a template program for organizing subsequently input template data. A builder program is used to make the template include a page having: a first portion that includes a set of data elements for representing the subsequently input data such that if the subsequently input data includes a time series data, then the first portion includes sets of up to twelve time series numeric data elements, and if the subsequently input data includes numeric data elements, then the first portion includes no more than four sets of numeric data elements, each of the sets including no more than ten numeric data elements; a second portion having at least one chart with at least one plot for depicting each of the numeric data elements from the first portion of the page; and a third portion having text characterizing at least one of the numeric data elements in the first portion. The template program is stored on memory media, and read by a viewer program operable on the computer system, to permit loading the template with data. The template loaded with data can be used to produce a show, readable by either the viewer program or an abbreviated version thereof, or to produce printed reports.

A printing system for printing documents and forms, as needed, in response to user-entered commands, includes a touch screen monitor for displaying information regarding the documents and forms, and user options, and for entry of commands by the user. A memory stores a plurality of documents and forms, the documents and forms being organized into a plurality of libraries, and stores software to control the display of options on the monitor and the interpretation and implementation of commands entered on the monitor. A printer prints documents and forms, and a processor, responsive to the monitor and the memory and communicating therewith, is connected to the printer to control printing of a document or form by the printer upon selection thereof by a user and entry of commands via the touch screen monitor. The memory further stores software to control the display and printing of the documents and forms without the native applications in which the documents and forms were created.

A device for automatically delivering professional services to a client is provided. The device includes a computer and a database containing a plurality of client reminders. The device also includes software executing on the computer for automatically querying the database by date to retrieve a client reminder, for automatically generating a client response form based on the retrieved client reminder, and for automatically transmitting the client response form to the client through a communication link between the computer and the Internet.

In a table data entering device, an input table generating unit generates an input table frame in the form of a table. An input table retaining unit retains the input table frame. A table data entering unit is used for entering table data containing titles and element data with the aid of the input table frame retained in the input table retaining unit. An input data retaining unit retains the entered table data. A set generating unit generates sets of title string and element data associated therewith from the table data retained in the input data retaining unit on the basis of the input table frame retained in the input table retaining unit.