Passing functional spreadsheet data by reference
First Claim
1. A method of passing functional spreadsheet data by reference in an electronic spreadsheet, the method comprising:
- identifying information associated with a first cell of a first sheet of the electronic spreadsheet, the information associated with the first cell including a formula, the formula including a first function call, the first function call including an argument comprising a plurality of formula elements, the plurality of formula elements comprising a cell identifier associated with a second cell, wherein the second cell is one of a plurality of cells in the first sheet or the second cell is one of a plurality of cells in a second sheet of the electronic spreadsheet;
identifying a value of the second cell, the value of the second cell being a text string corresponding to a function name, the function name corresponding to a name of a second function call for use in the argument of the first function call;
determining, by a processor in response to instructions stored on a tangible non-transitory computer readable medium, a result of the formula by steps comprising;
performing the first function call to convert the text string into the second function call that includes at least some of the plurality of formula elements, wherein performing the first function call to convert the text string into the second function call comprises;
modifying a dynamic calculation graph of the formula to include a new edge and a new subtree; and
evaluating the new edge and the new subtree; and
performing the second function call; and
transmitting, to a user device, information including the result of the formula for display in the first cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for passing functional spreadsheet data by reference is provided. Passing functional spreadsheet data by reference may include identifying information associated with a first cell of a first sheet of an electronic spreadsheet, the information associated with the first cell including a formula, the formula including a function call, the function call including an argument, the argument indicating a cell identifier associated with a second cell of the electronic spreadsheet; identifying information associated with the second cell, the information associated with the second cell including a function identifier; determining, by a processor in response to instructions stored on a tangible non-transitory computer readable medium, a result of the formula based on the function identifier; and transmitting information including the result of the formula for display in the first cell.
87 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of passing functional spreadsheet data by reference in an electronic spreadsheet, the method comprising:
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identifying information associated with a first cell of a first sheet of the electronic spreadsheet, the information associated with the first cell including a formula, the formula including a first function call, the first function call including an argument comprising a plurality of formula elements, the plurality of formula elements comprising a cell identifier associated with a second cell, wherein the second cell is one of a plurality of cells in the first sheet or the second cell is one of a plurality of cells in a second sheet of the electronic spreadsheet; identifying a value of the second cell, the value of the second cell being a text string corresponding to a function name, the function name corresponding to a name of a second function call for use in the argument of the first function call; determining, by a processor in response to instructions stored on a tangible non-transitory computer readable medium, a result of the formula by steps comprising; performing the first function call to convert the text string into the second function call that includes at least some of the plurality of formula elements, wherein performing the first function call to convert the text string into the second function call comprises; modifying a dynamic calculation graph of the formula to include a new edge and a new subtree; and evaluating the new edge and the new subtree; and performing the second function call; and transmitting, to a user device, information including the result of the formula for display in the first cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for use in processing data represented as an electronic spreadsheet, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory; and a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to; identify information associated with a first cell of a first sheet of the electronic spreadsheet, the information associated with the first cell including a formula, the formula including a first function call, the first function call including an argument comprising a plurality of formula elements, the plurality of formula elements comprising a cell identifier associated with a second cell; identify a value of the second cell, the value of the second cell being a text string corresponding to a function name, the function name corresponding to a name of a second function call for use in the argument of the first function call, wherein the text string is a discrete value or a result of a formula that evaluates to a string; determine a result of the formula by executing instructions to; perform the first function call to convert the text string into the second function call that includes at least some of the plurality of formula elements, wherein to perform the first function call to convert the text string into the second function call comprises to; modify a dynamic calculation graph of the formula to include a new edge and a new subtree; and evaluate the new edge and the new subtree; and perform the second function call; and transmit information including the result of the formula for display in the first cell. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification