Creating and managing structured data in an electronic spreadsheet
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for automatically creating a list in an electronic spreadsheet, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a user request for selecting a cell range in the electronic spreadsheet for displaying data, the cell range including one or more cells in one or more columns;
identifying a list range for the selected cell range in the electronic spreadsheet, wherein identifying a list range for the selected cell range comprises;
determining the number of cells in the selected cell range;
if the selected cell range contains two or more cells, then identifying the list range as the selected cell range; and
if the selected cell range contains exactly one cell, then identifying the list range based on the location of the cell in a current region of the electronic spreadsheet;
determining a header row for the list range, wherein determining a header row for the list range comprises;
determining whether the list range includes a field name for each column in the cell range; and
if the identified list range does not include any field names, then automatically generating a field name for each column in the cell range, wherein the automatically generated field names comprise the header row for the list range; and
generating a border for surrounding the list range to create the list.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic spreadsheet is provided for automatically creating, expanding, and validating lists of cells. A list is created by receiving a user request for selecting a cell range, identifying a list range for the selected cell range, determining a header row for the list range, and generating a border for surrounding the list range. A list is expanded by determining that one or more cells are adjacent to the list and automatically expanding the list to include the new cells. A list is validated by determining a data type of data entered into the list and comparing the data type of the data entered into the list to a list data type. If, as a result of the comparison, the data type of the data entered into the list does not match the list data type, then the data type of the data entered into the list is invalid.
77 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for automatically creating a list in an electronic spreadsheet, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a user request for selecting a cell range in the electronic spreadsheet for displaying data, the cell range including one or more cells in one or more columns; identifying a list range for the selected cell range in the electronic spreadsheet, wherein identifying a list range for the selected cell range comprises; determining the number of cells in the selected cell range; if the selected cell range contains two or more cells, then identifying the list range as the selected cell range; and if the selected cell range contains exactly one cell, then identifying the list range based on the location of the cell in a current region of the electronic spreadsheet; determining a header row for the list range, wherein determining a header row for the list range comprises; determining whether the list range includes a field name for each column in the cell range; and if the identified list range does not include any field names, then automatically generating a field name for each column in the cell range, wherein the automatically generated field names comprise the header row for the list range; and generating a border for surrounding the list range to create the list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for automatically expanding a list in an electronic spreadsheet, the method comprising:
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determining that at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to the list, wherein determining that at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to the list further comprises; determining that the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to a header row in the list, the header row comprising at least one field name; and determining that the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to a data row in the list, the data row comprising at least one cell containing data; automatically expanding the list to include the at least one previously blank newly edited cell, wherein automatically expanding the list to include the at least one previously blank newly edited cell comprises automatically expanding the list to include a new column containing the at least one previously blank newly edited cell; if the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to a header row in the list, then determining whether a data entry in the at least one previously blank newly edited cell duplicates an existing field name in the header row in the list; if the data entry in the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is identical to an existing field name in the header row in the list, then changing the data entry to a unique field name; if the data entry in the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is not identical to an existing field name in the header row in the list, then assigning the data entry as a field name for the new column; and if the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to a data row in the list, then automatically generating a field name for the new column. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for displaying an automatically created list in an electronic spreadsheet, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a user request for selecting a cell range in the electronic spreadsheet, the cell range including one or more cells in one or more columns for displaying data; identifying a list range for the selected cell range in the electronic spreadsheet, wherein identifying a list range for the selected cell range comprises; determining the number of cells in the selected cell range; if the selected cell range contains two or more cells, then identifying the list range as the selected cell range; and if the selected cell range contains exactly one cell, then identifying the list range based on the location of the cell in a current region of the electronic spreadsheet; determining a header row for the list range, wherein determining a header row for the list range comprises; determining whether the list range includes a field name for each column in the cell range; and if the identified list range does not include any field names, then automatically generating a field name for each column in the cell range, wherein the automatically generated field names comprise the header row for the list range; generating a border for surrounding the list range to create the list; and displaying the automatically created list on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for automatically expanding a list in an electronic spreadsheet, comprising the steps of:
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determining that at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to the list, wherein determining that at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to the list further comprises; determining that the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to a header row in the list, the header row comprising at least one field name; determining that the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to a data row in the list, the data row comprising at least one cell containing data; if the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to a header row in the list, then determining whether a data entry in the at least one previously blank newly edited cell duplicates an existing field name in the header row in the list; if the data entry in the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is identical to an existing field name in the header row in the list, then changing the data entry to a unique field name; if the data entry in the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is not identical to an existing field name in the header row in the list, then assigning the data entry as a field name for the new column; and if the at least one previously blank newly edited cell is adjacent to a data row in the list, then automatically generating a field name for the new column; and automatically expanding the list to include the at least one previously blank newly edited cell, wherein automatically expanding the list to include the at least one previously blank newly edited cell comprises automatically expanding the list to include a new column containing the at least one previously blank newly edited cell. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification