User defined spreadsheet functions

• US 7,266,763 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blackwell, Alan Frank, Peyton-Jones, Simon, Burnett, Margaret Myers
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Basehoar; Adam L.
• Application Number:
  US10/306,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 715/503, 715/538, 715/504, 715/764, 715/777, 707/1, 707/3
• US Class Current: 715/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A method of creating a user-defined function in a spreadsheet application is provided. The user-defined function is callable by a calling label in the spreadsheet application. A formula is received in the spreadsheet application. The formula is transferred to a function sheet of the spreadsheet application to define at least a portion of a function body. An interface is defined by identifying the calling label, an input parameter and a result parameter of the user-defined function. The function body operates on an argument corresponding to the input parameter and generates a result corresponding to the result parameter. The interface is stored in association with the function body to create the user-defined function.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable storage media containing executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method comprising:

receiving a formula in a spreadsheet application;

generating a distinct function sheet of the spreadsheet application associated with the formula;

transferring the formula to the function sheet to define at least a portion of an encapsulated user-defined function, wherein the function sheet is configured to accept formula-type operations that define the encapsulated user-defined function, wherein the encapsulated user-defined function includes one or more input parameters and a result parameter;

storing the encapsulated user-defined function;

associating the encapsulated user-defined function with a calling label; and

wherein the encapsulated user-defined function is callable using the calling label from within the spreadsheet application.

2. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the function sheet provides an edit capability.

3. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 1 wherein an input parameter of the one or more input parameters comprises a value representing a matrix, wherein the matrix is referenced in a single cell.

4. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the one or more input parameters further comprises one or more scalar values.

5. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the one or more input parameters further comprises one or more cells in the spreadsheet.

6. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the encapsulated user-defined function is callable from another spreadsheet application.

7. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 1 wherein the function sheet comprises a wizard that allows manipulation by the user.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a formula in a spreadsheet application;

generating a distinct function sheet of the spreadsheet application associated with the formula;

transferring the formula to the function sheet to define at least a portion of an encapsulated user-defined function, wherein the function sheet is configured to accept formula-type operations that define the encapsulated user-defined function, wherein the encapsulated user-defined function includes one or more input parameters and a result parameter;

storing the encapsulated user-defined function;

associating the encapsulated user-defined function with a calling label;

wherein the encapsulated user-defined function is callable using the calling label from within the spreadsheet application.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the function sheet provides an edit capability.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein input parameters comprises a value representing a matrix, wherein the matrix is referenced in a single cell.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more input parameters further comprises one or more scalar values.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more input parameters further comprises one or more cells in the spreadsheet.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the encapsulated user defined function is callable from another.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the function sheet comprises a wizard that allows manipulation by the user.

15. A system comprising:

a display device; and

means for displaying a spreadsheet application on the display device;

means for receiving a formula in the spreadsheet application;

means for generating a distinct function sheet of the spreadsheet application associated with the formula and transferring the formula to the function sheet to define at least a portion of an encapsulated user-defined function, wherein the function sheet is configured to accept formula-type operations that define the encapsulated user-defined function, wherein the encapsulated user-defined function includes one or more input parameters and a result parameter;

means for storing the encapsulated user-defined function;

means for associating the encapsulated user-defined function with a calling label; and

wherein the encapsulated user-defined function is callable using the calling label from the spreadsheet application.