Distribution of lambda functions

• US 10,699,068 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2018
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Gross, Christopher John, Campbell, Johnny, Russo, Claudio Vittorio
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Level, Barbara M
• Application Number:
  US16/024,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20200004812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/123 Storage facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, systems, methods and devices for interacting with lambda functions are presented. An indication to store a lambda function may be received. The lambda function may comprise: executable information that is specific to a first spreadsheet application instance, executable information that is generic to spreadsheet application instances, and metadata describing the functionality of the lambda function. The lambda function may be stored, and an indication to apply the stored lambda function to data in a separate spreadsheet application instance may be received. The stored lambda function may be provided to the separate spreadsheet application instance for execution.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for interacting with lambda functions in spreadsheet applications, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an indication to store a lambda function, wherein the lambda function comprises;

a reference to a range of cells that includes a value that the lambda function is applied to in a first spreadsheet application instance, wherein the first spreadsheet application instance is a spreadsheet application instance in which the lambda function was created,

computer executable information that is generic to spreadsheet application instances, and

metadata describing the functionality of the lambda function,

automatically replacing the reference to the range of cells with a generic placeholder that is selectable for adding a range of cells from a separate spreadsheet application instance;

storing the lambda function;

receiving an indication to apply the stored lambda function to data in the separate spreadsheet application instance;

providing the stored lambda function to the separate spreadsheet application instance;

receiving an indication of a selection of the generic placeholder in the separate spreadsheet application instance; and

replacing the generic placeholder with a range of cells from the separate spreadsheet application instance.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer executable information that is specific to the first spreadsheet application instance comprises a reference to at least one cell in the first spreadsheet application instance that contains data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the lambda function was applied, in the first spreadsheet application instance, to the data in the at least one cell.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer executable information that is specific to the first spreadsheet application instance comprises a reference to a sheet in the first spreadsheet application instance that contains data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the lambda function was applied, in the first spreadsheet application instance, to data in the sheet in the first spreadsheet application instance.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer executable information that is generic to spreadsheet application instances comprises at least one of:

a condition, and a formula.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the lambda function is stored in association with a plurality of lambda functions having a category type corresponding to the functionality described in the metadata.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication to store the lambda function comprises identifying, in the first spreadsheet application instance, a user-input expression comprising non-explicit syntax implicating a lambda function.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication to store the lambda function comprises identifying, in the first spreadsheet application instance, a user-input expression comprising explicit syntax implicating a lambda function.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the separate spreadsheet application instance is a spreadsheet application instance in which the lambda function was not created.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the lambda function is an implied lambda function.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises working examples that illustrate how the lambda function may be applied.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the separate spreadsheet application instance is a spreadsheet application instance in which the lambda function was not created.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the executable information that is specific to the first spreadsheet application instance comprises a reference to at least one cell in the first spreadsheet application instance that contains the data.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the executable information that is specific to the first spreadsheet application instance comprises a reference to a sheet in the first spreadsheet application instance that contains data.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the lambda function is an implied lambda function.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the metadata comprises working examples that illustrate how the lambda function may be applied.

13. A system for interacting with lambda functions in spreadsheet applications, the system comprising:

a memory for storing executable program code; and

one or more processors, functionally coupled to the memory, the one or more processors being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program code and operative to;

receive an indication to store a lambda function, wherein the lambda function comprises;

a reference to a range of cells that includes a value that the lambda function is applied to in a first spreadsheet application instance, wherein the first spreadsheet application instance is a spreadsheet application instance in which the lambda function was created,

executable information that is generic to spreadsheet application instances, and

metadata describing the functionality of the lambda function,

automatically replace the reference to the range of cells with a generic placeholder that is selectable for adding a range of cells from a separate spreadsheet application instance;

store the lambda function;

receive an indication to apply the stored lambda function to data in a separate spreadsheet application instance,

provide the stored lambda function to the separate spreadsheet application instance

receive an indication of a selection of the generic placeholder in the separate spreadsheet application instance; and

replace the generic placeholder with a range of cells from the separate spreadsheet application instance.

19. A computer-readable storage device comprising executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, assists with interacting with lambda functions, the computer-readable storage device including instructions executable by the one or more processors for:

receiving an indication to store a lambda function, wherein the lambda function comprises;

a reference to a range of cells that includes a value that the lambda function is applied to in a first spreadsheet application instance, wherein the first spreadsheet application instance is a spreadsheet application instance in which the lambda function was created,

information, executable by spreadsheet applications, that is generic to spreadsheet application instances, and

metadata describing the functionality of the lambda function,

automatically replacing the reference to the range of cells with a generic placeholder that is selectable for adding a range of cells from a separate spreadsheet application instance;

storing the lambda function;

receiving an indication to apply the stored lambda function to data in a separate spreadsheet application instance, wherein the separate spreadsheet application instance is a spreadsheet application instance in which the lambda function was not created;

providing the stored lambda function to the separate spreadsheet application instance

receiving an indication of a selection of the generic placeholder in the separate spreadsheet application instance; and

replacing the generic placeholder with a range of cells from the separate spreadsheet application instance.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the lambda function is an implied lambda function.