DISPLAYING MULTIPLE ROW AND COLUMN HEADER AREAS IN A SUMMARY TABLE

• US 20160357722A1
• Filed: 08/18/2016
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Folting, Allan
• Granted Patent: US 10,108,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

A data analysis program receives a selection of data fields defining multiple row header areas and/or multiple column header areas for display in a summary table. Data is read from a data source containing values for the data fields and transformed into summary level data for building the summary table. A display is rendered in the summary table for each of the multiple row header areas and column header areas defined, with the row header areas being displayed vertically adjacent to one another and the column header areas being displayed horizontally adjacent to one another.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying a summary table having a plurality of adjacent header areas, the method comprising:

transforming data from a data source containing values for selected fields for the plurality of adjacent header areas to summary level data for rendering the summary table; and

rendering the plurality of adjacent header areas in the summary table, wherein a subsequent header area is displayed substantially adjacent to a previous header area in the summary table.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of adjacent header areas comprises two or more row header areas, and wherein the two or more row header areas are rendered substantially vertically adjacent to each other in the summary table.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of adjacent header areas comprises two or more column header areas, and wherein the two or more column header areas are rendered substantially horizontally adjacent to each other in the summary table.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein an aggregate label is displayed in one of the plurality of adjacent header areas, such that data associated with the one of the plurality of adjacent header areas may be summarized for an entirety of the one of the plurality of adjacent header areas.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein operations performed in regard to one of the plurality of adjacent header areas in the summary table do not affect the display of other of the plurality of adjacent header areas.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, where operations performed regarding a column header area of the summary table affects the display of each of the two or more row header areas.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, where operations performed regarding a row header area of the summary table affects the display of each of the two or more column header areas.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein operations performed to an entirety of the summary table affect the display of all of the plurality of adjacent header areas.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the summary table is rendered by a spreadsheet program.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the data source comprises a spreadsheet maintained in the spreadsheet program.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a data field selection for a plurality of adjacent header areas of a summary table;

transform data from a data source containing values for the selected fields to summary level data for rendering the summary table; and

render the plurality of adjacent header areas in the summary table, wherein a subsequent header area is rendered substantially adjacent to a previous header area in the summary table.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of adjacent header areas comprises two or more row header areas, and wherein the two or more row header areas are rendered substantially vertically adjacent to each other in the summary table.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of adjacent header areas comprises two or more column header areas, and wherein the two or more column header areas are rendered substantially horizontally adjacent to each other in the summary table.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein operations performed in regard to one of the plurality of adjacent header areas in the summary table do not affect the display of other of the plurality of adjacent header areas.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, where operations performed regarding a column header area of the summary table affects the display of each of the two or more row header areas.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, where operations performed regarding a row header area of the summary table affects the display of each of the two or more column header areas.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein operations performed to an entirety of the summary table affect the display of all of the plurality of adjacent header areas.

18. An apparatus for displaying a summary table having a plurality of row header areas or column header areas, the apparatus comprising:

a computer; and

a data analysis program module executing on the computer, the data analysis program module operable to;

receive a selection of data fields for the plurality of row header areas or column header areas,

transform data containing values for the selected fields to summary level data for rendering the summary table, and

render the plurality of row header areas or column header areas in the summary table, wherein the plurality of row header areas are displayed substantially vertically adjacent to each other in the summary table and the plurality of column header areas are displayed substantially horizontally adjacent to each other in the summary table, and wherein operations performed in regard to one of the plurality of row header areas do not affect the display of other of the plurality of row header areas and operations performed regarding one of the plurality of column header areas do not affect the display of other of the plurality of column header areas in the summary table.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data analysis program module is further operable to display an aggregate row label in each of the plurality of row header areas, and an aggregate column header area is displayed in each of the plurality of column header areas.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the data analysis program module comprises a spreadsheet program, and wherein the data comprises a spreadsheet maintained in the spreadsheet program.