Method for assisting the operator of an interactive data processing system to enter data directly into a selected cell of a spreadsheet

• US 5,021,973 A
• Filed: 04/14/1989
• Issued: 06/04/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Machart, Beverly H., Hernandez, Irene H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Dale M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US07/339,852
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 364/518, 364/521, 364/900, 364/200, 364/300, 340/724, 340/727, 340/709, 340/750
• US Class Current: 715/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

A method for use in an interactive data processing system which includes a processor for controlling data entered into said system from an input device, and a display device which functions to display a spreadsheet shell that is defined by an application program. Data is entered into said system interactively by an operator through an input device, such as a keyboard. The operator selects a cell of the spreadsheet in accordance with the type of cursor positioning mechanism provided in the system. Once a cell is selected, an editing cursor is displayed in the cell at a predetermined first entry position. As each character of data is entered, it is displayed in the cell, just as it was entered. The data is neither formatted nor calculated if it was a formula. The operator indicates to the system when data entry is complete, by pressing an "Accept" key which may be a dedicated key, preprogrammed key, or one of the function keys on the keyboard. Various conventional editing actions of the data in the cell are provided, such as deleting characters and scrolling at the edge of the cell.

Claims

1. A method for assisting the operator of an interactive data processing system executing a spreadsheet application program in editing a displayed spreadsheet, said system including an input device operable by said operator for entering data into said system, a display device having a predetermined number of displayable lines and a predetermined number of displayable columns for displaying information entered into said system and a system processor for controlling said devices and for excuting said spreadsheet application program, said method comprising the steps of;

(1) displaying a spreadsheet on said display device by running said application program on said processor to depict a plurality of addressable cells arranged in a two dimensional array of addressable horizontal rows, each of which comprises a predefined number of said displayable lines, and addressable vertical columns, each of which comprises a predefined number of said displayable columns, said step of displaying including the further step of,

(a) assigning to each said addressable horizontal row and each said addressable vertical column a unique symbol to permit each said cell to be addressed by the two said symbols assigned to said addressable row and column that intersect at said cell;

(2) selecting one of said addressable cells to be edited, including the further steps of,

(a) said operator moving a system cursor to said one selected addressable cell, and

(b) indicating to said system that said one said cell is to be selected,

(3) displaying another cursor at a predetermined position within said one selected cell to indicate the display position in said selected cell where a first editing action of said operator will be displayed;

(4) assigning said one selected cell a first format attribute prior to selecting said one cell,

(5) performing said editing action by entering characters into said one selected cell with said input device including the further steps of,

(a) displaying as normal text each said character that is entered into said system,

(b) moving said another cursor to the next adjacent unedited display position in said selected cell after the entry of each said character; and

(c) keying in an accept signal after the last said character is entered, and

(6) converting said characters of data displayed in said text mode into a different representation corresponding to said previously assigned format attribute only after said operator keys in said accept signal.

2. A method for assisting the operator of an interactive data processing system executing a spreadsheet application program in editing a displayed spreadsheet, said system including an input device operable by said operator for entering data into said system, a display device having a predetermined number of displayable lines and a predetermined number of displayable columns for displaying information entered into said system and a system processor for controlling said devices and for executing said spreadsheet application program, said method comprising the steps of;

(1) displaying a spreadsheet on said display device by running said application program on said processor to depict a plurality of addressable cells arranged in a two dimensional array of addressable horizontal rows, each of which comprises a predefined number of said displayable lines, and addressable vertical columns, each of which comprises a predefined number of said displayable columns, said step of displaying including the further step of,

(a) assigning to each said addressable horizontal row and each said addressable vertical column a unique symbol to permit each said cell to be addressed by the two said symbols assigned to said addressable row and column that intersect at said cell;

(2) selecting one of said addressable cells to be edited, including the further steps of,

(a) said operator moving a system cursor to said one selected addressable cell, and

(b) indicating to said system that said one said cell is to be selected,

(3) displaying another cursor at a predetermined position within said one selected cell to indicate the display position in said selected cell where a first editing action of said operator will be displayed;

(4) assigning said one selected cell a first format attribute prior to selecting said one cell including the steps of,

(5) performing said editing action by entering characters into said one selected cell with said input device including the further steps of,

(a) displaying as normal text each said character that is entered into said system,

(b) moving said another cursor to the next adjacent unedited display position in said selected cell after the entry of each said character; and

(c) keying in an accept signal after the last said character is entered, and

(6) converting said characters of data displayed in said text mode into a different representation corresponding to said previously assigned format attribute only after said operator keys in said accept signal, said step of assigning a first format attribute includes the further step of,

(a) assigning a formula attribute to said one cell to cause said characters that are entered in said one cell as a formula to be displayed in a formula format prior to said step of keying in said accept signal, and in which said step of converting includes the further step of,

(b) calculating with said system the results of said formula, and

(7) displaying in said one cell said results of calculating said formula.

3. The method recited in claim 2 including the further step of,

(A) re-displaying said initial formula whenever said one cell is reselected.

4. A method for assisting an operator of an interactive data processing system to enter data into one cell selected from a plurality of displayed cells, each of which has a unique address that is assigned in accordance with the spatial position of said cell in a two dimensional spreadsheet array, said method comprising the steps of;

(1) running a spreadsheet application program on said system to display said spreadsheet array of cells, said step of running including the further steps of,

(a) assigning one cell a first format attribute prior to selecting said one cell, and

(b) selecting said one cell including a first step of,

(i) positioning a system cursor within said one cell, and a second step of,

(ii) indicating to said system that said one cell is to be selected, and

(2) displaying a typing cursor at a predetermined display position within one said cell; and

(3) displaying each character of data that said operator enters into said system in sequential horizontal display positions within said one cell beginning with said predetermined display position in a normal text mode of said system,

(4) keying in an accept signal after the last said character of data is entered into said system,

(5) converting said data displayed in said text mode in said cell into a different related textual representation corresponding to said previously assigned format attribute only after said operator keys in said accept signal, and

(6) displaying in said one cell said converted data in said related textual representation.

5. A method for assisting an operator of an interative data processing system to enter data into one cell selected from a plurality of displayed cells, each of which has a unique address that is assigned in accordance with the spatial position of said cell in a two dimensional spreadsheet array, said method comprising the steps of;

(1) running a spreadsheet application program on said system to display said spreadsheet array of cells, said step of running including the further steps of,

(a) assigning one cell a first format attribute prior to selecting said one cell, and

(b) selecting said one cell including a first step of,

(i) positioning a system cursor within said one cell, and a second step of,

(ii) indicating to said system that said one cell is to be selected, and

(2) displaying a typing cursor at a pretermined display position within one said cell;

(3) displaying each character of data that said operator enters into said system in sequential horizontal display positions within said one cell beginning with said predetermined display position in a normal text mode of said system,

(4) keying in an accept signal after the last said character of data is entered into said system,

(5) converting said data displayed in said text mode in said cell into a different related textual representation corresponding to said previously assigned format attribute only after said operator keys in said accept signal, and

(6) displaying in said one cell said converted data in said related textual representation, said step of assigning a format attribute including the further step of,

(a) assigning a formula attribute to said one cell to cause said data entered in said one cell as a formula to be displayed in a formula format prior to said step of keying in said accept signal, and in which said step of converting includes the further step of,

(b) calculating with said system the results of said formula, and

(7) displaying in said one cell said results of calculating said formula.

6. The method recited in claim 5 including the further step of,

(A) re-displaying said initial formula whenever said one cell is reselected.