×

Auto-formatting of tables in a spreadsheet program

  • US 5,613,131 A
  • Filed: 01/29/1993
  • Issued: 03/18/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. In a data processing system having a processor that runs a spreadsheet program, a method of identifying a table to be formatted in a spreadsheet composed of cells that may be empty or hold contents, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

  • designating a cell as an active cell;

    identifying the active cell as part of the table to be formatted;

    iteratively identifying each cell that is immediately adjacent in a vertical direction to a cell that has already been identified as part of the table and that holds non-empty contents as part of the table to be formatted, such that said identifying identifies a selected column of cells composed of a number of cells that are part of the table to be formatted; and

    iteratively identifying each column of cells, that has a number of cells equal to the selected column of cells and that is immediately adjacent to a column of cells that already has been identified as part of the table to be formatted and that includes at least one cell that holds non-empty contents, as part of the table to be formatted.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×