Methods of updating spreadsheets

• US 20050210369A1
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John A. Damm Jr
• Original Assignee: John A. Damm Jr
• Inventors: Damm, John A. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/804,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210369A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of updating spreadsheet-based cells. One method of updating spreadsheet-based cells involves tapping on a cell and automatically increasing the value of the cell by a predetermined increment each time the cell is tapped. Another method of updating spreadsheet-based cells involves tapping on a cell, automatically displaying a drop-down list in response to tapping on the cell, tapping on a cell value to select a new cell value and automatically entering the new cell value into the cell.

Claims

1. A method of updating a spreadsheet-based cell having a value, the method comprising the steps of:

tapping on the cell; and

automatically increasing the value of the cell by a predetermined increment each time the cell is tapped.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of tapping on the cell is performed by a person.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of tapping on the cell comprises the step of tapping on a touch screen using a stylus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically increasing the value of the cell by a predetermined increment is performed by a computer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the computer is a handheld computer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically updating the value of other cells whose value depends upon the value of the cell.

7. A method of updating a spreadsheet-based cell having a cell-based drop-down list, the drop-down list including a plurality of alternative cell values, the method comprising the steps of:

tapping on the cell;

automatically displaying the drop-down list in response to tapping on the cell;

tapping on one of the alternative cell values to select a new cell value; and

automatically entering the new cell value into the cell.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the steps of tapping on the cell and tapping on one of the alternative cell values are performed by a person.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the steps of tapping on the cell and tapping on one of the alternative cell values comprise the step of tapping on a touch screen using a stylus.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the steps of auto automatically displaying the drop-down list and automatically entering the new cell value are performed by a computer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer is a handheld computer.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of automatically updating the value of other cells whose value depends upon the value of the cell.

13. A method of updating a spreadsheet-based cell having a value, the method comprising the steps of:

clicking on the cell; and

automatically increasing the value of the cell by a predetermined increment each time the cell is clicked.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of clicking on the cell is performed by a person using a computer mouse or other pointing device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of automatically increasing the value of the cell by a predetermined increment is performed by a personal computer or laptop.

16. A method of updating a spreadsheet-based cell having a cell-based drop-down list, the drop-down list including a plurality of alternative cell values, the method comprising the steps of:

clicking on the cell;

automatically displaying the drop-down list in response to clicking on the cell;

clicking on one of the alternative cell values to select a new cell value; and

automatically entering the new cell value into the cell.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the steps of clicking on the cell and clicking on one of the alternative cell values are performed by a person using a computer mouse or other pointing device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the steps of automatically displaying the drop-down list and automatically entering the new cell value are performed by a personal computer or laptop.