Systems and methods providing dynamic spreadsheet functionality
First Claim
1. A method for dynamic spreadsheet reporting, comprising:
- a) providing an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows;
b) providing a database in communication with said electronic spreadsheet;
c) receiving an expansion formula in at least one of said plurality of cells that comprises at least one dimension member and instructions for expansion, said expansion formula functioning to control retrieval of data associated with said at least one dimension member;
d) in response to rendering said electronic spreadsheet, using said at least one dimension member from said expansion formula to query said database to retrieve data associated with said at least one dimension member from said database;
e) storing said retrieved data associated with said at least one dimension member from said expansion formula in a cache for use to respond to one or more queries to said database for said at least one dimension member;
f) using said instructions for expansion from said expansion formula to automatically adjust at least one of the defined number of said columns and rows to accommodate said data responsive to said querying of said database; and
g) populating said adjusted columns and rows with said retrieved data while maintaining the operation and functionality of said electronic spreadsheet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An advantageous system and method are provided for supporting and/or enabling the creation of dynamic reports and/or data presentation(s) in connection with a spreadsheet-based application or program. The disclosed system and method offer a full complement of spreadsheet-based formatting and calculation capabilities. In addition, the system and method of the present disclosure may be used in conjunction with and/or incorporated as part of spreadsheet-based application(s) and/or program(s) found on stand-alone clients and/or networked clients. The disclosed system and method generally include an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows, a database in communication with the electronic spreadsheet, and an expansion formula that functions to control retrieval of data from the database and automatically varies/expands at least one of the defined number of columns and rows to accommodate the data retrieval.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for dynamic spreadsheet reporting, comprising:
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a) providing an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows; b) providing a database in communication with said electronic spreadsheet; c) receiving an expansion formula in at least one of said plurality of cells that comprises at least one dimension member and instructions for expansion, said expansion formula functioning to control retrieval of data associated with said at least one dimension member; d) in response to rendering said electronic spreadsheet, using said at least one dimension member from said expansion formula to query said database to retrieve data associated with said at least one dimension member from said database; e) storing said retrieved data associated with said at least one dimension member from said expansion formula in a cache for use to respond to one or more queries to said database for said at least one dimension member; f) using said instructions for expansion from said expansion formula to automatically adjust at least one of the defined number of said columns and rows to accommodate said data responsive to said querying of said database; and g) populating said adjusted columns and rows with said retrieved data while maintaining the operation and functionality of said electronic spreadsheet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for supporting dynamic spreadsheet reporting, comprising:
a client that includes a processor and associated data storage containing at least one database, said processor adapted to process programmatic instructions associated with an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows;
said programmatic instructions directing said processor to;receive at least one expansion formula inserted into in at least one of said plurality of cells that comprises at least one dimension member and instructions for expansion, said expansion formula functioning to control retrieval of data associated with the at least one dimension member; in response to rendering said electronic spreadsheet, use said at least one dimension member from said expansion formula to query said database to retrieve data associated with said at least one dimension member from said database; store said retrieved data associated with said at least one dimension member from said expansion formula for use to respond to one or more queries to said database for said at least one dimension member; use said instructions for expansion from said expansion formula to automatically adjust at least one of the defined number of said columns and rows to accommodate said data responsive to said querying of said database; and populate said adjusted columns and rows with said retrieved data while maintaining the operation and functionality of said electronic spreadsheet. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification