MODERN SPREADSHEET ARRAYS

• US 20170124142A1
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Becker, Andrew, Campbell, John, McDaid, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,545,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a novel approach for creating and referencing arrays as implemented in a spreadsheet application. Aspects of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to: referencing arrays, creating dynamic arrays, collapsing values of an array into a single cell, spilling values of an array to a table, referencing one or more values in collapsed arrays, visually indicating no spill errors while maintaining calculation capabilities thereon, and implicit intersection of data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for resolving a cell to an array of values, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of values;

receiving a selection to create an array; and

creating the array that includes each of the plurality of values.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of values is spilled over one or more cells of the spreadsheet.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a reference to a cell of the one or more cells to which the array is spilled; and

displaying a value corresponding to the referenced cell.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a structured reference to an element of the array; and

displaying a value corresponding to the structured reference of the array.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification to perform at least one of an update to a value of the array and a recalculation of a formula associated with the array; and

updating the array to reflect the change.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the change comprises modifying the value.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the change comprises adding a new value to the array.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection to collapse the array to a single cell; and

collapsing the array to the single cell.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the single cell is a cell in which the array is stored.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying an array symbol in the single cell.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether one or more obstructing cells exist;

based on a determination that at least one obstructing cell exists, provide an error.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein provide an error further comprises:

display a #NOSPILL error in the cell in which the array is stored.

13. A system comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

at least one memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the system to perform a method, the method comprising;

receiving a plurality of values;

receiving a selection to create an array; and

creating the array that includes each of the plurality of values.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a reference to a cell to which the array is spilled; and

displaying a value corresponding to the referenced cell.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a structured reference to an element of the array; and

displaying a value corresponding to the structured reference of the array.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a notification to perform at least one of an update to a value of the array and a recalculation of a formula associated with the array; and

updating the array to reflect the change.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a selection to collapse the array to a single cell;

collapsing the array to the single cell; and

displaying an array symbol in the single cell.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether one or more obstructing cells exist;

based on a determination that at least one obstructing cell exists, display an error.

19. A system comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

at least one memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the system to perform a method, the method comprising;

receiving a formula at a spreadsheet; and

in response to receiving the formula, resolving the formula to an array, wherein the array comprises one or more values, wherein each value is viewable from a cell of the spreadsheet.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

displaying a border around the created array.