System and method for efficiently and flexibly utilizing spreadsheet information
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for utilizing a spreadsheet, the method comprising:
- defining a parameter external to the spreadsheet;
associating the parameter with the spreadsheet at design time to define a parameterized workbook, wherein the parameter applies to the spreadsheet as a whole, thereby allowing any formula in the spreadsheet to reference the parameter;
receiving a value for the parameter at run time;
computing cell values in the spreadsheet that are dependent, directly or indirectly, on parameter; and
rendering an output based on the computed cell values.
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Abstract
In one aspect, the present invention relates to utilizing a spreadsheet by defining a parameter external to the spreadsheet and associating the parameter with the spreadsheet to define a parameterized workbook. In one embodiment, this utilization further comprises storing a location of the spreadsheet and storing the name of the parameter in the same storage module as the location. In another embodiment, it includes defining a result external to the spreadsheet, the result referencing one or more cells within the spreadsheet. In another embodiment, this utilization further comprises receiving a value for the parameter and generating the result based at least in part on the value and the spreadsheet. In another embodiment, it further comprises associating a type with the parameter. The type can define a range of values or attributes associated with the parameter.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for utilizing a spreadsheet, the method comprising:
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defining a parameter external to the spreadsheet; associating the parameter with the spreadsheet at design time to define a parameterized workbook, wherein the parameter applies to the spreadsheet as a whole, thereby allowing any formula in the spreadsheet to reference the parameter; receiving a value for the parameter at run time; computing cell values in the spreadsheet that are dependent, directly or indirectly, on parameter; and rendering an output based on the computed cell values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification