Spreadsheet command/function capability from a dynamic-link library
First Claim
1. In a data processing system having a memory that holds a spreadsheet program and an operating system with a dynamic-link library and a processing means that executes the spreadsheet program and the operating system, a method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
- a) executing the spreadsheet program on the processing means;
b) calling the dynamic-link library from the executing spreadsheet program;
c) beginning execution of the dynamic-link library on the processing means;
d) providing an entry point in the spreadsheet program to support a callback from the dynamic-link library to the spreadsheet program to request the spreadsheet program to perform requested activities;
e) making a callback in the dynamic-link library from the dynamic-link library to the entry point in the spreadsheet program in order to perform the requested activities in the spreadsheet program;
f) in response to the callback, performing the requested activities by the spreadsheet program; and
g) completing execution of the dynamic-link library on the processing means.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data processing system executes a spreadsheet program that supports callbacks from dynamic-link libraries. The dynamic-link libraries may callback into the spreadsheet program through an entry point provided in the spreadsheet program. These callbacks allow execution of spreadsheet program functions and commands from within the dynamic-link library. The ability to callback to the spreadsheet program from the dynamic-link library results in substantial savings in time and memory space.
47 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In a data processing system having a memory that holds a spreadsheet program and an operating system with a dynamic-link library and a processing means that executes the spreadsheet program and the operating system, a method comprising the computer implemented steps of:
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a) executing the spreadsheet program on the processing means; b) calling the dynamic-link library from the executing spreadsheet program; c) beginning execution of the dynamic-link library on the processing means; d) providing an entry point in the spreadsheet program to support a callback from the dynamic-link library to the spreadsheet program to request the spreadsheet program to perform requested activities; e) making a callback in the dynamic-link library from the dynamic-link library to the entry point in the spreadsheet program in order to perform the requested activities in the spreadsheet program; f) in response to the callback, performing the requested activities by the spreadsheet program; and g) completing execution of the dynamic-link library on the processing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a data processing system having a memory holding a dynamic-link library and a processing means executing a spreadsheet program with a spreadsheet macro sheet that is not visible to a user of the spreadsheet program, said spreadsheet program being responsive to commands and maintaining state information that indicates from where the commands originate, a method comprising the steps of:
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a) executing the spreadsheet program on the processing means; b) calling the dynamic-link library from the executing spreadsheet program on the processing means; c) generating a callback or entry point in the spreadsheet program from the dynamic-link library to execute a selected spreadsheet program command; d) setting state information maintained by the spreadsheet program to indicate that the callback originated from the spreadsheet macro sheet; and e) performing the selected spreadsheet program command. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification