Systems and methods for automated graphing of spreadsheet information
DCFirst Claim
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1. In a computer system, a method for assisting a user with graphing information, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of different graph types for presenting data sets of varying layout and information content;
(b) receiving as input one of said data sets, said data set including information desired by the user to be plotted as a graph;
(c) examining said data set by said computer system, for determining layout and information content for said data set;
(d) automatically selecting a graph type by said computer system, based on said determined layout and information content for said data set; and
(e) plotting said graph with the information of said data set, said graph having said selected graph type.
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Abstract
An electronic spreadsheet system of the present invention includes an intelligent graphing module for automatically selecting a graph type based on a user'"'"'s own data. Methods are described for determining the level of complexity present in a user'"'"'s data and for automatically selecting a preferred graph type based on that determined complexity. The system includes a preferred interface for receiving selections from the user indicating an information set (e.g., a block of contiguous or non-contiguous spreadsheet cells) to visualize graphically.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. In a computer system, a method for assisting a user with graphing information, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of different graph types for presenting data sets of varying layout and information content; (b) receiving as input one of said data sets, said data set including information desired by the user to be plotted as a graph; (c) examining said data set by said computer system, for determining layout and information content for said data set; (d) automatically selecting a graph type by said computer system, based on said determined layout and information content for said data set; and (e) plotting said graph with the information of said data set, said graph having said selected graph type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for plotting information stored in information cells as a graph, the system comprising:
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a processor and a memory, said memory storing a plurality of different graph types, each of said graph types being suited for plotting a particular set of information; a screen device for displaying information stored in said information cells; an input device for selecting desired ones of said information cells; means, responsive to said input device and responsive to information stored in said selected information cells, for automatically selecting one of said different graph types by said system, based on layout and information content of said selected information cells; and means for plotting the information stored in said selected information cells as a graph having said selected graph type. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In an electronic spreadsheet system including a matrix of information cells, said information cells storing data and formulas operative on said data, a method for assisting a user with plotting graphs, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of different graph types for presenting information; (b) selecting desired ones of said information cells to be plotted as a graph; (c) examining by said system content and layout of the selected information cells; and (d) selecting by said system, based on the content and layout of the selected information cells, one of said plurality of graph types for plotting the selected information cells. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. In an electronic spreadsheet system, an improved method for aiding a user in graphing spreadsheet information, the improvement comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing a plurality of different graph types, each of which is suited for a particular content and layout of information; (b) examining by said system content and layout of information to be graphed; and (c) selecting by said system a graph type for plotting said information to be graphed by matching content and layout of said information with one of said plurality of graph types which is suited for said content and layout. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification