Functional visualization of spreadsheets
First Claim
1. A method for providing a visual representation of a spreadsheet, said method comprising the steps of:
- identifying cells in the spreadsheet as data cells or calculation cells;
identifying a collection of data entities and calculation entities for the visual representation, where each entity corresponds to one or more cells in the spreadsheet;
positioning the entities in a predetermined configuration;
connecting the entities by arrows based on their corresponding relationship in the spreadsheet to form the visual representation;
detecting changes in the cells of the spreadsheet; and
changing the entities in the visual representation to correspond to the detected changes in the cells of the spreadsheet to maintain a functional equivalence between the visual representation and the spreadsheet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for providing a functional visualization of a spreadsheet. The method includes correlating spreadsheet cells with both data entities and calculation entities in an influence diagram, and then automatically updating the entities in the influence diagram in response to changes made to the spreadsheet, or automatically updating the spreadsheet in response to changes made to the entities in the influence diagram. The method includes identifying one or more cells in a spreadsheet as a data cell or a calculation cell, and then identifying corresponding data entities and calculation entities in the influence diagram. The entities in the influence diagram can have predetermined attributes (color, shape, images, etc.) depending on their function. Next, the method includes positioning the entities in the influence diagram by employing user interaction to configure the entities in a visually pleasing manner, or positioning the entities by employing an automatic design layout algorithm to determine the configuration of the entities. Once the equivalent influence diagram is generated for the particular spreadsheet, the method detects any change in the cells of the spreadsheet or any change in the entities of the influence diagram, and then updates the entities in the influence diagram or the spreadsheet corresponding to the detected change in the spreadsheet or influence diagram to maintain a functional equivalence between the spreadsheet and influence diagram.
93 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for providing a visual representation of a spreadsheet, said method comprising the steps of:
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identifying cells in the spreadsheet as data cells or calculation cells;
identifying a collection of data entities and calculation entities for the visual representation, where each entity corresponds to one or more cells in the spreadsheet;
positioning the entities in a predetermined configuration;
connecting the entities by arrows based on their corresponding relationship in the spreadsheet to form the visual representation;
detecting changes in the cells of the spreadsheet; and
changing the entities in the visual representation to correspond to the detected changes in the cells of the spreadsheet to maintain a functional equivalence between the visual representation and the spreadsheet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for corresponding a visual representation and a spreadsheet, said method comprising the steps of:
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identifying cells in the spreadsheet as data cells or calculation cells;
identifying a collection of data entities and calculation entities for the visual representation;
corresponding the data cells to the data entities and the calculation cells to the calculation entities so that the visual representation and the spreadsheet have a functional equivalence;
detecting changes in the cells of the spreadsheet and changes in the entities of the visual representation; and
changing the entities in the visual representation to correspond to the detected changes in the cells of the spreadsheet and changing the cells in the spreadsheet to correspond to detected changes in the entities in the visual representation so as to maintain a functional equivalence between the visual representation and the spreadsheet. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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18. A system for corresponding a visual representation and a spreadsheet, said system comprising:
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means for identifying cells in the spreadsheet as data cells or calculation cells;
means for identifying a collection of data entities and calculation entities for the visual representation;
means for corresponding the data cells to the data entities and the calculation cells to the calculation entities so that the visual representation in the spreadsheet have a functional equivalence;
means for detecting changes in the cells of the spreadsheet and changes in the entities of the visual representation; and
means for changing the entities in the visual representation to correspond to detected changes in the cells of the spreadsheet and means for changing the cells in the spreadsheet to correspond to detected changes in the entities in the visual representation so as to maintain a functional equivalence between the visual representations and the spreadsheet.
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Specification