Automatic highlighting of formula parameters for limited display devices

• US 9,594,735 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Bhargav, Rajat, Sethi, Manish, Maloo, Raghvendra, Agrawal, Siddhartha
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mrabi, Hassan
• Application Number:
  US13/230,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20130067306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 715/212, 715/217, 715/219, 715/220
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

A formula bar is used for receiving user input for entry/editing of formulas using touch input and/or a Soft Input Panel (SIP) designed for formula input. In response to a user initiating entry of a formula, a list of formulas is displayed based on the user'"'"'s input. A formula may be selected and displayed within the formula bar with a parameter highlighted. The user may then enter the value for the parameter (e.g. a single value, a range, another formula, and the like) using touch input and/or SIP input. As the user enters the value for each parameter, the next parameter for the formula is automatically highlighted. The formula may be validated to determine if the parameters for the formula have been entered correctly. Tips may also be displayed in/near the display of the formula bar to provide assistance to the user entering the formula.

Claims

1. A method for entering a formula for a spreadsheet using a limited display device including a touch screen configured to receive touch input, comprising:

determining an input to start an entry of a formula within a formula bar, wherein the formula bar displays formulas located elsewhere in selected cells of the spreadsheet;

in response to the input, determining a list of formulas from available formulas to display on the limited display device;

displaying the list of formulas on the limited display device;

receiving a selection of a formula in the displayed list of formulas;

in response to receiving the selection of the formula, removing the display of the list of formulas and displaying the selected formula and associated parameters within the formula bar and highlighting a first parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar;

receiving entry of a new value for the highlighted first parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar such that the highlighted first parameter is changed; and

upon receiving entry of the value for the highlighted first parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar, automatically highlighting a second parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar such that when highlighted a new value may be entered in place of the second parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar, wherein each successive parameter of the formula is automatically highlighted and new values may be entered in placed of each successive parameter when highlighted until each parameter of the formula is entered, wherein the highlighting and the successive entry of the values for the first and second parameters of the displayed formula occur in the same formula bar.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving entry of the value for the parameter of the formula using at least one of:

the Software Input Panel (SIP) and the touch input comprises receiving a multi-cell selection of cells of a spreadsheet displayed on the limited display device using the touch input that is used to set the value for the parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the multi-cell selection specifies a range that is used to set the value for the parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a touch input on a parameter of the formula and selecting the parameter receiving the touch input.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the SIP such that characters comprising the following characters:

−

, +, %, &

, (, ), /, ^, <

, >

, $, ″

are displayed on a single screen of the SIP.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating entry of the formula to determine that each non-optional parameter of the formula is entered correctly before exiting a formula editing mode and when a parameter is not entered correctly providing a warning message within the formula bar that comprises a display of the formula.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying parameter tooltips within the formula bar that comprises a display the formula.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the parameter tooltips within the formula bar occurs in response to a parameter within the formula being highlighted or selected.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the parameter tooltips within the formula bar occurs in response to a determination that a parameter has not been entered.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a quick sum option within the formula bar that when selected displays summary information for selected cells of a spreadsheet.

11. A computer-readable device not consisting of a communication media having computer-executable instructions for entering a formula for a spreadsheet using a limited display device including a touch screen configured to receive touch input, comprising:

in response to receiving input within a formula bar, displaying a list of formulas on the limited display device, wherein the formula bar displays formulas located elsewhere in selected cells of the spreadsheet;

receiving a touch selection of a formula in the displayed list of formulas;

in response to receiving the selection of the formula, removing the display of the list of formulas and displaying the selected formula and associated parameters within the formula bar and highlighting a first parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar;

receiving entry of a new value for the highlighted first parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar such that the highlighted first parameter is changed; and

upon receiving entry of the value for the first parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar, automatically highlighting a second parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar such that when highlighted a value may be entered in place of the second parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar, wherein each successive parameter of the formula is automatically highlighted and a value may be entered in place of each successive parameter when highlighted until each parameter of the formula is entered, wherein the highlighting and the successive entry of the values for the first and second parameters of the displayed formula occur in the same formula bar.

12. The computer-readable device of claim 11, wherein receiving entry of the value for the parameter of the formula using at least one of:

the Software Input Panel (SIP) and the touch input comprises receiving a multi-cell selection of cells of a spreadsheet displayed on the limited display device using the touch input that is used to set the value for the parameter.

13. The computer-readable device of claim 11, further comprising receiving a touch input on a parameter of the formula and selecting the parameter receiving the touch input.

14. The computer-readable device of claim 11, further comprising configuring the SIP such that characters comprising the following characters:

−

, +, %, &

, (, ), /, ^, <

, >

, $, ″

are displayed on a single screen of the SIP.

15. The computer-readable device of claim 11, further comprising validating entry of the formula to determine that each non-optional parameter of the formula is entered correctly before exiting a formula editing mode and when a parameter is not entered correctly providing a warning message within a formula bar that comprises a display of the formula.

16. The computer-readable device of claim 11, further comprising displaying parameter tooltips within the formula bar that comprises a display the formula in response to a parameter within the formula being highlighted or selected.

17. The computer-readable device of claim 11, wherein displaying the parameter tooltips within the formula bar occurs in response to a determination that a parameter has not been entered correctly.

18. A system for entering a formula for a spreadsheet, comprising:

a display;

a touch surface that is configured to receive touch input;

a processor and a computer-readable device not including a signal;

an operating environment stored on the computer-readable device and executing on the processor; and

a formula manager operating under the control of the operating environment and operative to;

in response to receiving input within a formula bar using a Software Input Panel (SIP) comprising the following characters;

−

, +, *, (, ), /, ^, <

, >

, $, ″

are displayed on a single screen of the SIP, displaying a list of formulas on the limited display device, wherein the formula bar displays formulas located elsewhere in selected cells of the spreadsheet;

receiving a touch selection of a formula in the displayed list of formulas;

in response to receiving the selection of the formula, removing the display of the list of formulas and displaying the selected formula and associated parameters within the formula bar and highlighting a first parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar;

receiving entry of a new value for the highlighted first parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar, such that the highlighted first parameter is changed, from a touch input device that comprises receiving a multi-cell selection of cells of a spreadsheet displayed on the limited display device using the touch input that is used to set the value for the parameter; and

upon receiving entry of the value for the first parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar, automatically highlighting a second parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar such that when highlighted a value may be entered in place of the second parameter of the displayed formula within the formula bar, wherein each successive parameter of the formula is automatically highlighted and a value may be entered in placed of each successive parameter when highlighted until each parameter of the formula is entered, wherein the highlighting and the successive entry of the values for the first and second parameters of the displayed formula occur in the same formula bar.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising validating entry of the formula to determine that each non-optional parameter of the formula is entered correctly before exiting a formula editing mode and when a parameter is not entered correctly providing a warning message within a formula bar that comprises a display of the formula.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising displaying parameter tooltips within the formula bar that comprises a display the formula in response to at least one of:

a parameter within the formula being highlighted;

a parameter within the formula being selected; and

in response to a determination that a parameter has not been entered correctly.