Model based spreadsheet scripting language

• US 8,407,668 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lindhorst, Gregory S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Ben C
• Application Number:
  US11/925,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20090113388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells

Abstract

Techniques for programming using a model based spreadsheet scripting language are disclosed herein, where procedural aspects may be incorporated along with the model based aspects therein. In particular, techniques for performing calculations of a value, and recalculation of interdependent formulas using programs written with the model based spreadsheet scripting language are disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage memory having stored thereon computer executable instructions for calculating a value using a model based spreadsheet scripting language, the computer executable instructions comprising:

executing a program that defines a value for a second variable based on a value for a first variable, the program written in the model based spreadsheet scripting language whereby the value for the second variable changes repeatedly when the value for the first variable changes repeatedly, the program comprising a textual representation of at least a portion of a spreadsheet and a plurality of formulas contained in the spreadsheet, the spreadsheet comprising a first cell having a first value that is model-based and that is recalculated when the value of the first variable changes, the model based spreadsheet language incorporating procedural elements for calculation of spreadsheet values and thereby enabling a second cell having a second value that is not model-based and that is recalculated in response to selection of a reset function;

receiving the value for the first variable;

calculating the value for the second variable based on the value for the first variable in the program; and

,

generating an output comprising the calculated value for the second variable.

2. The computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise automatically recalculating the value for the second variable without receiving an explicit instruction to do so.

3. The computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein the first variable and/or the second variable is a cell reference corresponding to a cell in a spreadsheet table.

4. The computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein the first variable and/or the second variable is a cell range reference corresponding to a range of cells in a spreadsheet table.

5. The computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise:

detecting a triggering event that triggers the calculating of the value for the second variable; and

,

calculating the value for the second variable responsive to the triggering event.

6. The computer readable storage memory of claim 5, wherein the triggering event is receiving the value for the first variable.

7. The computer readable storage memory of claim 5, wherein the triggering event is the selection of the reset function.

8. The computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein the program is executed by a spreadsheet application.

9. The computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein the scripting language is hosted within a browser.

10. The computer readable storage memory of claim 1, wherein the program is a textual representation of the spreadsheet and all formulas contained therein.

11. A method of recalculating values for a plurality of formulas using a model based spreadsheet scripting language, comprising the following steps:

executing a program that defines the plurality of formulas, the program written in the model based spreadsheet scripting language whereby the values for the plurality of formulas change repeatedly when a first variable in one of the plurality of formulas changes repeatedly, the program comprising a textual representation of at least a portion of a spreadsheet and the plurality of formulas contained in the spreadsheet, the spreadsheet comprising a first cell having a first value that is model-based and that is recalculated when the first variable changes, the model based spreadsheet language incorporating procedural elements for calculation of spreadsheet values and thereby enabling a second cell having a second value that is not model-based and that is recalculated in response to selection of a reset function;

receiving a change in value for the first variable;

recalculating the values for the plurality of formulas based on the change in value for the first variable; and

,

generating an output comprising the recalculated values for the plurality of formulas.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically recalculating the values for the plurality of formulas without receiving an explicit instruction to do so.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein variables in the plurality of formulas correspond to specified cells within a spreadsheet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of formulas are interdependent on each other.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the values for all of the plurality of formulas are recalculated upon selection of the reset function.

16. A method of representing a spreadsheet, comprising the following steps:

executing a program that defines a plurality of formulas, the program written in a model based spreadsheet scripting language whereby values of the plurality of formulas change repeatedly when a first variable in one of the plurality of formulas changes repeatedly, the program comprising a textual representation of at least a portion of the spreadsheet and the plurality of formulas contained in the spreadsheet, the spreadsheet comprising a first cell having a first value that is model-based and that is recalculated when the first variable changes, the model based spreadsheet language incorporating procedural elements for calculation of spreadsheet values and thereby enabling a second cell having a second value that is not model-based and that is recalculated in response to selection of a reset function; and

implementing the procedural elements into the program to define order therein.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of implementing control flow to the program.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein additional programming languages are able to interface with the model based spreadsheet scripting language in the program.