Excel spreadsheet parsing to share cells, formulas, tables, etc.
First Claim
1. A process for presenting a user interface on a client computer coupled to a server computer which maintains a master library of spreadsheet objects, comprising the steps:
- A) using a computer to implement a user interface mechanism that a user can invoke to save a spreadsheet to a master library; and
B) using a computer to implement a user interface mechanism that a user can invoke to designate a spreadsheet stored in said master library for sharing with other users thereby enabling sharing of each individual object in said spreadsheet;
C) using a computer to implement one or more user interface mechanisms to open said master library, examine its contents and import an object stored therein into a spreadsheet being executed on said computer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Discloses a method and apparatus and user interface for parsing individual objects of a spreadsheet created on a client computer and sending the entire workbook, its binary and the objects for storage on a server computer in a master library. The master library can be opened, searched and objects downloaded. The downloaded object can have their metadata displayed, and the level of detail about each object that is downloaded can be controlled by the user. The user can designate objects for sharing in the master library with other spreadsheet users. Downloaded objects can be modified with the native tools of the spreadsheet application, typically Excel, and re-stored in the master library under a different name and with the person who changed the object listed in the metadata as the owner. Searches can controlled by user interface tools to designate object type to search, and search type can be by owner or functional area of the company. Users can enter their own metadata. Automatic naming of objects decouples objects from their original locations in the workbooks upon which they were created.
196 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A process for presenting a user interface on a client computer coupled to a server computer which maintains a master library of spreadsheet objects, comprising the steps:
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A) using a computer to implement a user interface mechanism that a user can invoke to save a spreadsheet to a master library; and B) using a computer to implement a user interface mechanism that a user can invoke to designate a spreadsheet stored in said master library for sharing with other users thereby enabling sharing of each individual object in said spreadsheet; C) using a computer to implement one or more user interface mechanisms to open said master library, examine its contents and import an object stored therein into a spreadsheet being executed on said computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A process for presenting a user interface on a client computer coupled to a server computer which maintains a master library of spreadsheet objects, comprising the steps:
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A) using a computer to implement one or more user interface mechanisms to open a master library which stores objects parsed from a spreadsheet which has been shared by its owner; B) using a computer to implement one or more user interface mechanisms to search the objects stored in said master library; C) using a computer to implement one or more user interface mechanisms to analyze what the objects found in said search do; and D) using a computer to implement one or more user interface mechanisms to download into a spreadsheet any object in said master library. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause to occur a spreadsheet object sharing process carried out on a client computer which is coupled via any data path to a server computer running a master library process, comprising:
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controlling said client computer to implement a user interface mechanism that can be invoked by a user to provide a request from said user to open a master library which stores entire spreadsheets, workbooks and individual cells, tables and templates from said workbooks; controlling said client computer to implement one or more user interface mechanisms which can be used to select the type of spreadsheet object to search for in a master library with which said client computer is in contact and to specify the manner of search and send a search request to said server computer; controlling said client computer to display a user interface mechanism display results of said search request, and display spreadsheet objects returned as a result of said search. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification