Spreadsheet-based software application development

• US 10,540,153 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2017
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Stachura
• Original Assignee: Thomas Stachura
• Inventors: Stachura, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duy Khuong T
• Application Number:
  US15/829,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20180157468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 779 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

Aspects described herein may be used with local spreadsheet applications, web, and/or cloud-based spreadsheet solutions, to create complex custom software applications. Spreadsheets themselves lack the conceptual framework to be used as a platform tool to build custom or complex software applications. Using the methods and systems described herein using low-code/no-code techniques, a designer can create custom and/or complex software applications using one or more spreadsheets as the underlying blueprints for the software application. The resultant software application may be static/read-only, or may be interactive to allow users to dynamically add, delete, edit, or otherwise amend application data, e.g., via one or more online web pages or via a mobile application. Data transfer may be one-way or bi-directional between the blueprint spreadsheets and the resultant software application, thereby allowing amended data to be transferred from the software application back into spreadsheet form.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for generating an interactive web application comprising at least one web page, the method comprising:

determining at least one primary data source within a spreadsheet, wherein the at least one primary data source corresponds to a first worksheet of the spreadsheet;

determining at least one secondary data source within the spreadsheet, wherein the at least one secondary data source corresponds to a different second worksheet of the spreadsheet;

determining a relationship between records of the primary data source and records of the secondary data source;

generating, automatically and based on the determined relationship, a third worksheet comprising at least a portion of the records of the primary data source and at least a portion of the records of the secondary data source, wherein content of the third worksheet is synchronized with content of the first worksheet and content of the second worksheet, and wherein a first row of the third worksheet comprises at least one first cell selected from the primary data source and at least one different second cell selected from the second data source based on the determined relationship;

generating a web data store separate from the spreadsheet and comprising data records from the first worksheet and the second worksheet;

generating a particular web page of the interactive web application based on at least one user interface template corresponding to the particular web page, wherein the particular web page references records of the third worksheet identified based on the at least one user interface template corresponding to the particular web page, wherein generating the particular web page of the interactive web application comprises extracting content corresponding to the records of the third worksheet from the web data store, and wherein the content corresponding to the records of the third worksheet is identified by the at least one user interface template corresponding to the particular web page;

receiving user input via an input control associated with the particular web page of the interactive web application; and

updating at least one record of the secondary data source based on the received user input and based on the determined relationship.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a first user interface template within the spreadsheet, wherein the first user interface template identifies the primary data source and the secondary data source,

wherein generating the third worksheet comprising at least a portion of the records of the primary data source and at least a portion of the records of the secondary data source is performed in response to determining the first user interface template.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third worksheet comprises an indirect view of the records of the primary data source and of the records of the secondary data source.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that content of the primary data source or the secondary data source has changed, updating the corresponding content of the third worksheet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source comprises:

receiving second user input comprising an indication of the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source comprises:

automatically detecting the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source based on one or more characteristics of the first worksheet and the second worksheet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source comprises:

automatically detecting the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source based on one or more characteristics of the at least one user interface template.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that content of the third worksheet has changed, updating corresponding content of the first worksheet or of the second worksheet.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that formatting of at least one first record of the third worksheet has changed, updating formatting of a corresponding second record of the first worksheet or of the second worksheet.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that formatting of at least one first record of the first worksheet or of the second worksheet has changed, updating formatting of a corresponding second record of the third worksheet.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the third worksheet is performed responsive to receiving second user input requesting creation of an automatically generated sheet.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined relationship indicates a one-to-one relationship or a one-to-many relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the second data source.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined relationship indicates that a first column of the first worksheet serves as a primary key or a foreign key.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relationship is based on a record structure of the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relationship is based on common content of a first column of the records of the primary data source and a second column of the records of the second data source.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relationship is based on at least one parameter of at least one formula in a cell of the spreadsheet.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source comprises:

determining, automatically, a potential relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source based on one or more clues;

determining a reliability level of the determined potential relationship; and

accepting or rejecting the determined potential relationship based on the determined reliability level.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one tertiary data source within the spreadsheet, wherein the at least one tertiary data source corresponds to a different fourth worksheet of the spreadsheet;

determining a second relationship between the records of the primary data source and records of the tertiary data source; and

generating, automatically and based on the determined second relationship, a fifth worksheet comprising at least a portion of the records of the primary data source and at least a portion of the records of the tertiary data source, wherein content of the fifth worksheet is synchronized with content of the first worksheet and content of the fourth worksheet.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one tertiary data source within the spreadsheet, wherein the at least one tertiary data source corresponds to a different fourth worksheet of the spreadsheet;

determining a second relationship between the records of the third worksheet and records of the tertiary data source; and

generating, automatically and based on the determined second relationship, a fifth worksheet comprising at least a portion of the records of the third worksheet and at least a portion of the records of the tertiary data source, wherein content of the fifth worksheet is synchronized with content of the first worksheet, content of the second worksheet, and content of the fourth worksheet.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one cell of a fourth worksheet comprises a formula that references at least one cell of the automatically generated third worksheet.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the formula aggregates values of a plurality of cells of the automatically generated third worksheet.

22. A computer implemented method for generating an interactive web application comprising at least one web page, the method comprising:

determining at least one primary data source within a spreadsheet, wherein the at least one primary data source corresponds to a first worksheet;

determining at least one secondary data source, wherein the at least one secondary data source corresponds to a different second worksheet;

determining a relationship between records of the primary data source and records of the secondary data source based on content of the records of the primary data source and content of the records of the second data source;

generating, automatically and based on the determined relationship, a third worksheet comprising at least a portion of the records of the primary data source and at least a portion of the records of the secondary data source, wherein content of the third worksheet is synchronized with content of the first worksheet and content of the second worksheet, and wherein a first row of the third worksheet comprises at least one first cell selected from the primary data source and at least one different second cell selected from the second data source based on the determined relationship;

generating a web data store separate from the third worksheet and comprising data records from the first worksheet and the second worksheet;

generating a particular web page of the interactive web application based on at least one user interface template corresponding to the particular web page, wherein the particular web page references records of the third worksheet identified based on the at least one user interface template corresponding to the particular web page, wherein generating the particular web page of the interactive web application comprises extracting content corresponding to the records of the third worksheet from the web data store, and wherein the content corresponding to the records of the third worksheet is identified by the at least one user interface template corresponding to the particular web page;

receiving user input via an input control associated with the particular web page of the interactive web application; and

updating at least one record of the secondary data source based on the received user input and based on the determined relationship.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining a first user interface template, wherein the first user interface template identifies the primary data source and the secondary data source,

wherein generating the third worksheet comprising at least a portion of the records of the primary data source and at least a portion of the records of the secondary data source is performed in response to determining the first user interface template.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the third worksheet comprises an indirect view of the records of the primary data source and of the records of the secondary data source.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

responsive to determining that content of the primary data source or the secondary data source has changed, updating the corresponding content of the third worksheet.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source comprises:

receiving second user input comprising an indication of the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source comprises:

automatically detecting the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source based on one or more characteristics of the first worksheet and the second worksheet.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source comprises:

automatically detecting the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source based on one or more characteristics of the at least one user interface template.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

responsive to determining that content of the third worksheet has changed, updating corresponding content of the first worksheet or of the second worksheet.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

responsive to determining that formatting of at least one first record of the third worksheet has changed, updating formatting of a corresponding second record of the first worksheet or of the second worksheet.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

responsive to determining that formatting of at least one first record of the first worksheet or of the second worksheet has changed, updating formatting of a corresponding second record of the third worksheet.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein generating the third worksheet is performed responsive to receiving second user input requesting creation of an automatically generated sheet.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the determined relationship indicates a one-to-one relationship or a one-to-many relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the second data source.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the determined relationship indicates that a first column of the first worksheet serves as a primary key or a foreign key.

35. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the relationship is based on a record structure of the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the relationship is based on common content of a first column of the records of the primary data source and a second column of the records of the second data source.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the relationship is based on at least one parameter of at least one formula in a cell of the spreadsheet.

38. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source comprises:

determining, automatically, a potential relationship between the records of the primary data source and the records of the secondary data source based on one or more clues;

determining a reliability level of the determined potential relationship; and

accepting or rejecting the determined potential relationship based on the determined reliability level.

39. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining at least one tertiary data source, wherein the at least one tertiary data source corresponds to a different fourth worksheet;

determining a second relationship between the records of the primary data source and records of the tertiary data source; and

generating, automatically and based on the determined second relationship, a fifth worksheet comprising at least a portion of the records of the primary data source and at least a portion of the records of the tertiary data source, wherein content of the fifth worksheet is synchronized with content of the first worksheet and content of the fourth worksheet.

40. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining at least one tertiary data source, wherein the at least one tertiary data source corresponds to a different fourth worksheet;

determining a second relationship between the records of the third worksheet and records of the tertiary data source; and

generating, automatically and based on the determined second relationship, a fifth worksheet comprising at least a portion of the records of the third worksheet and at least a portion of the records of the tertiary data source, wherein content of the fifth worksheet is synchronized with content of the first worksheet, content of the second worksheet, and content of the fourth worksheet.

41. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one cell of a fourth worksheet comprises a formula that references at least one cell of the automatically generated third worksheet.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the formula aggregates values of a plurality of cells of the automatically generated third worksheet.