Storing table data

• US 8,327,259 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Berger, Peter Glen, Chapman, Jesse, Lehrian, Matthew Ross, Su, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US11/890,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,947 Days
• Field of Search: 715/212, 715/213, 715/216, 715/220
• US Class Current: 715/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines

Abstract

In some embodiments, the grid definition and data source definition portions of a table definition are segregated. Grid definition values included in the grid definition portion include one or more grid geometry values and/or grid line style values. Cell content values included in the data source definition portion include one or more data values and/or cell-specific style values.

Claims

1. A method for storing table data, comprising:

receiving, with respect to a grid definition portion of a table definition, a specification of a set of one or more grid definition values for a table, wherein the set of grid definition values includes one or more grid geometry values that specify geometry of the table;

receiving, with respect to a data source definition portion of the table definition, a specification of a set of one or more cell content values for cells comprising the table;

storing the table definition, wherein the table definition is segregated such that the grid definition portion of the table definition which defines the geometry of the table is decoupled and separately defined from the data source definition portion of the table definition which defines content of the table; and

rendering the table using a processor according to the stored table definition, wherein rendering the table comprises separately rendering grid lines of the table as specified by the grid definition portion of the table definition and the content of the table as specified by the data source definition portion of the table definition with respect to a prescribed display space at which the table is rendered.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of grid definition values includes one or more grid line style values.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more grid geometry values comprise one or more of the following:

a number of rows, a number of columns, a number of hidden rows, a number of hidden columns, column widths for one or more columns, and row heights for one or more rows.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more grid line style values comprise one or more of the following:

grid line types for one or more grid lines or portions thereof, grid line thicknesses for one or more grid lines or portions thereof, and grid line colors for one or more grid lines or portions thereof.

5. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more grid line style values are included in a set of one or more style runs.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the grid definition portion includes a style run for each of at least a subset of vertical and horizontal grid lines or portions thereof of the table.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of cell content values includes one or more data values, one or more cell-specific style values, or both.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a cell content value comprises a specific data value specified in the table definition.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a cell content value comprises a pointer to an external data value.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a set of one or more style sheets includes one or more style definitions.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the table definition includes one or more references to one or more style definitions in the set of one or more style sheets with respect to one or more components.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the table definition comprises a single XML element.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the grid definition portion comprises a first element and the data source definition portion comprises a second element.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the second element is a sub-element of the first element.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the table is associated with spreadsheet functionality.

16. A system for storing table data, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive, with respect to a grid definition portion of a table definition, a specification of a set of one or more grid definition values for a table, wherein the set of grid definition values includes one or more grid geometry values that specify geometry of the table;

receive, with respect to a data source definition portion of the table definition, a specification of a set of one or more cell content values for

cells comprising the table;

store the table definition, wherein the table definition is segregated such that the grid definition portion of the table definition which defines the geometry of the table is decoupled and separately defined from the data source definition portion of the table definition which defines content of the table;

render the table according to the stored table definition, wherein to render the table comprises separately rendering grid lines of the table as specified by the grid definition portion of the table definition and the content of the table as specified by the data source definition portion of the table definition with respect to a prescribed display space at which the table is rendered; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide instructions to the processor.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the set of grid definition values includes one or more grid line style values.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the one or more grid line style values comprise one or more of the following:

grid line types for one or more grid lines or portions thereof, grid line thicknesses for one or more grid lines or portions thereof, and grid line colors for one or more grid lines or portions thereof.

19. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the set of cell content values includes one or more data values, one or more cell-specific style values, or both.

20. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the one or more grid geometry values comprise one or more of the following:

a number of rows, a number of columns, a number of hidden rows, a number of hidden columns, column widths for one or more columns, and row heights for one or more rows.

21. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein a cell content value comprises a pointer to an external data value.

22. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the table definition comprises a single XML element.

23. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the table is associated with spreadsheet functionality.

24. A computer program product for storing table data, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving, with respect to a grid definition portion of a table definition, a specification of a set of one or more grid definition values for a table, wherein the set of grid definition values includes one or more grid geometry values that specify geometry of the table;

receiving, with respect to a data source definition portion of the table definition, a specification of a set of one or more cell content values for cells comprising the table;

storing the table definition, wherein the table definition is segregated such that the grid definition portion of the table definition which defines the geometry of the table is decoupled and separately defined from the data source definition portion of the table definition which defines content of the table; and

rendering the table according to the stored table definition, wherein rendering the table comprises separately rendering grid lines of the table as specified by the grid definition portion of the table definition and the content of the table as specified by the data source definition portion of the table definition with respect to a prescribed display space at which the table is rendered.

25. A computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the set of grid definition values includes one or more grid line style values.

26. A computer program product as recited in claim 25, wherein the one or more grid line style values comprise one or more of the following:

grid line types for one or more grid lines or portions thereof, grid line thicknesses for one or more grid lines or portions thereof, and grid line colors for one or more grid lines or portions thereof.

27. A computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the set of cell content values includes one or more data values, one or more cell-specific style values, or both.

28. A computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the one or more grid geometry values comprise one or more of the following:

a number of rows, a number of columns, a number of hidden rows, a number of hidden columns, column widths for one or more columns, and row heights for one or more rows.

29. A computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein a cell content value comprises a pointer to an external data value.

30. A computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the table definition comprises a single XML element.

31. A computer program product as recited in claim 24, wherein the table is associated with spreadsheet functionality.