System and method for editing a spreadsheet via an improved editing and cell selection model
First Claim
1. A method for editing a spreadsheet comprising a plurality of cells, comprising the steps:
- displaying the spreadsheet;
when an input device indicator is positioned over one of the cells of the spreadsheet, receiving from an input device an input signal comprising one of a single alphanumeric character and single button data indication;
in response to the input signal, selecting the cell of the spreadsheet;
when an input device indicator is positioned over one of the cells of the spreadsheet, receiving from the input device a second input signal comprising one of a single alphanumeric character and single button data indication;
in response to the second input signal, entering the edit mode for editing contents of the selected cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Editing cells within a spreadsheet to change the contents of a spreadsheet. To enter edit mode and alter the contents of a cell, the user first selects a cell by single clicking a mouse button while the mouse indicator is positioned above the cell. The user then initiates another single click when the mouse indicator is positioned above the selected cell. Once edit mode is active, the user may change the contents of the cell from within the web browser window as desired. Edit mode can be exited through one of three methods: an “exit and save” signal, an “exit and discard” signal, or a click and drag maneuver. The exit and save signal prompts the invention to save all changes to the cell that the user has made. The exit and discard signal prompts the invention to discard any changes made to the cell by the user, revert to the pre-edit mode contents of the edit cell, and exit edit mode. Finally, a click and drag maneuver not only exits edit mode, but selects a range of cells. The click and drag is performed by depressing a mouse button while the mouse indicator is positioned over the edit cell, moving the mouse while holding the mouse button depressed, and releasing the mouse button when the end of the desired range of cells is reached. The range of cells selected will then start with the edit cell and continue to the cell over which the mouse indicator was positioned when the mouse button was released.
77 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for editing a spreadsheet comprising a plurality of cells, comprising the steps:
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displaying the spreadsheet;
when an input device indicator is positioned over one of the cells of the spreadsheet, receiving from an input device an input signal comprising one of a single alphanumeric character and single button data indication;
in response to the input signal, selecting the cell of the spreadsheet;
when an input device indicator is positioned over one of the cells of the spreadsheet, receiving from the input device a second input signal comprising one of a single alphanumeric character and single button data indication;
in response to the second input signal, entering the edit mode for editing contents of the selected cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system for editing a spreadsheet comprising a plurality of cells, comprising:
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a processing unit;
an input device connected to the processing unit;
a memory storage device operative for storing a program module;
a display device, coupled to the processing unit, operative to display the spreadsheet on a display screen;
an input device indicator, operative to move across the display screen in response to a signal from the input device; and
a processing unit, responsive to instructions from the program module running on the computer system, operative to;
display the spreadsheet within a web browser window;
receive from the input device an indication that one of the cells has been selected;
in response to the indication that a cell has been selected, select the cell;
receive from the input device an indication that the input device indicator is positioned over the selected cell;
in response to the indication that the input device indicator is positioned over the selected cell, change the input device indicator to a predetermined icon indicating that edit mode is available;
receive from the input device an indication that a selected cell has been selected; and
in response to the indication that a selected cell has been selected, enter an edit mode for editing the contents of the selected cell. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a program module for editing a spreadsheet comprising a plurality of cells, the program module comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, performs the steps of:
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displaying the spreadsheet;
receiving an indication that a cell has been selected;
in response to the indication that the cell has been selected, displaying a first visual indication around the selected cell;
receiving an indication that a selected cell has been selected;
in response to the indication that the selected cell has been selected, entering an edit mode for editing the contents of the selected cell, the edit mode indicated by displaying a second visual indication around the edit cell;
receiving position data from an input device, the position data indicative of the position of an input device indicator;
receiving from the input device an indication that the edit cell has been selected;
in response to the indication that the edit cell has been selected, providing a first position indication corresponding to the position of the input device indicator when the third input signal was initiated;
in response to the input device being moved while the indication that the edit cell has been selected is maintained, providing visual feedback corresponding to a selection region, the selection region including a rectangular area extending from the first position indication through the current position data;
in response to the input signal terminating, selecting the range of cells that are included in the selection region; and
in response to selecting the range of cells, exiting edit mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification