Spreadsheet view enhancement system

• US 6,185,582 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chang, Bay-Wei, Igarashi, Takeo, Mackinlay, Jock D., Zellweger, Polle T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US09/098,904
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 707/503, 707/504, 707/509, 707/104, 707/512, 707/538, 345/440
• US Class Current: 715/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

An augmented spreadsheet presentation provides for selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, with two or more displayed cells of the array of cells being logically linked by a constraint graph. Color of two or more displayed cells can be dynamically adjusted in response to selected user focus with a mouse or other cursor, with each of the two or more displayed cells having a slightly different color to form a color gradient that shows constraint graph linkage of the cells. Additional annotations illustrating constraint graph relationships or formulas can also be activated by a transient mouse focus.

Claims

1. A method for augmenting a spreadsheet presentation on a display, the method comprising the steps of

selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, wherein two or more displayed cells of the array of cells are logically linked by a constraint graph, and

dynamically adjusting color of two or more displayed cells logically linked by the constraint graph in response to selected user focus, with each of the two or more displayed cells having a slightly different color that forms a color gradient for enhancing indication of constraint graph linkage of the two or more displayed cells of the array of cells.

2. A method for augmenting a spreadsheet presentation on a display, the method comprising the steps of

transiently selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, wherein two or more displayed cells of the array of cells are logically linked by a constraint graph, and

visibly linking two or more displayed cells logically linked by the constraint graph in response to said transiently selected region of user focus, with the primary body of data being spatially morphed to accommodate visible linkages.

3. A method for augmenting a spreadsheet presentation on a display, the method comprising the steps of

transiently selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, wherein two or more displayed cells of the array of cells are logically linked by a constraint graph,

negotiating between the primary body of data and a supporting body of data to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while substantially maintaining an unobstructed view of the primary body of data, and

visibly linking with said supporting body of data two or more displayed cells logically linked by the constraint graph in response to said transiently selected region of user focus.

4. A method for annotating a spreadsheet having spreadsheet data displayable on a screen and a supporting body of data relatable to an annotation tag present in the spreadsheet, the method comprising the steps of

selecting an annotation tag having a predetermined size in the spreadsheet,

negotiating between the spreadsheet and the supporting body of data to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while substantially maintaining an unobstructed view of the primary body of data, with the negotiated space being sized larger than the predetermined size of the annotation tag, and

positioning the supporting body of data in the negotiated space.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of animating an expansion of the annotation tag into the negotiated space.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of animating a contraction of the supporting body of data positioned in the negotiated space back into the annotation tag.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein spreadsheet data is decreased in size as the supporting body of data is increased in size in response to selecting the annotation tag.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the spreadsheet is spatially morphed.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the annotation tag is at least a fragment of a constraint formula related to a spreadsheet cell.