Formula editor

• US 9,286,285 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Holtzblatt, Shoshana, Vagell, Vance J., Shah, Varnali
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapp, Amelia
• Application Number:
  US13/663,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for editing a formula includes receiving a text string including formula information. The method further includes parsing the received text string and analyzing the parsed text string for a formula and formula errors while the text string is being received. In response to a formula error being detected in the analyzed text string, the method can include generating a message pertaining to the formula error. In response to a formula detected in the analyzed text string, the method can include calculating at least one sub-value for the formula and generating a message pertaining to the at least one sub-value of the formula.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for editing a formula, the method comprising:

receiving a text string including formula information;

while the text string is being received, parsing the received text string and analyzing the parsed text string for global formula errors, localized formula errors, and a formula including formula sub-parts wherein analyzing occurs after a threshold time delay;

in response to detecting a global formula error, generating an indication for the formula including the global formula error, generating a message including a suggested correction for the global formula error, and sending both the indication for the formula and the message including the suggested correction for the global formula error to a display;

in response to detecting a localized formula error, generating an indication for the formula sub-part including the localized formula error, generating a message including a suggested correction for the localized formula error, and sending both the indication for the formula sub-part and the message including the suggested correction for the localized formula error to the display;

in response to detecting a formula sub-part, calculating a sub-value for the formula sub-part, generating a message including the sub-value, and sending the message including the sub-value to the display; and

if neither a global formula error nor a localized formula error is detected, calculating a value for the formula, generating a message including the value, and sending the message including the value to the display.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein sending the message including the suggested correction for the localized formula error to the display occurs in response to selection of the formula sub-part including the localized formula error.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the selection of the formula sub-part occurs in response to a delimiter being proximate to the formula sub-part in the text string containing the localized formula error.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the selection of the formula sub-part occurs in response to a cursor being proximate to the formula sub-part in the text string containing the localized formula error.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the selection of the formula sub-part occurs in response to a pointer hovering over the formula sub-part in the text string containing the localized formula error.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the message including the suggested correction for the localized formula error includes highlighting the formula sub-part within the text string containing the localized formula error.

7. A computer-implemented method for editing a formula, the method comprising:

receiving a text string including formula information;

while the text string is being received, parsing the received text string and analyzing the parsed text string for global formula errors, localized formula errors, and a formula including formula sub-parts, wherein analyzing occurs after a threshold time delay for receiving additional formula information;

in response to detecting a global formula error that persists beyond the threshold time delay, generating a message including a suggested correction for the global formula error and sending the message including the suggested correction for the global formula error to a display;

in response to detecting a localized formula error that persists beyond the threshold time delay, generating a message including a suggested correction for the localized formula error and sending the message including the suggested correction for the localized formula error to the display;

in response to detecting a formula sub-part, calculating a sub-value for the formula sub-part, generating a message including the sub-value, and sending the message including the sub-value to the display; and

if neither a global formula error nor a localized formula error is detected, calculating a value for the formula, generating a message including the value, and sending the message including the value to the display.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein sending one of the message including the at least one sub-value for the formula sub-part and the message including the suggested correction for the localized formula error to the display occurs in response to selection of the formula sub-part.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the selection of the formula sub-part occurs in response to a delimiter being proximate to the formula sub-part in the text string containing one of the formula sub-value and the localized formula error.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the selection of the formula sub-part occurs in response to a cursor being proximate to the formula sub-part in the text string containing one of the formula sub-value and the localized formula error.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the selection of the formula sub-part occurs in response to a pointer hovering over the formula sub-part in the text string containing one of the formula sub-value and the localized formula error.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein at least two sub-values are calculated, and the formula sub-part selected within the analyzed text string includes one of the at least two sub-values.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

in response to selection of a formula sub-part within the formula, sending the message pertaining to the result of the formula to the display.

14. A computer-readable medium having processor-executable program instructions adapted to be executed to implement a method for editing a formula, the method comprising:

receiving a text string including formula information;

while the text string is being received, parsing the received text string and analyzing the parsed text string for global formula errors, localized formula errors, and a formula including formula sub-parts, wherein analyzing occurs after a threshold time delay for receiving additional formula information;

in response to detecting a global formula error that persists beyond the threshold time delay, generating a message including a suggested correction for the global formula error and sending the message including the suggested correction for the global formula error to a display;

in response to detecting a localized formula error that persists beyond the threshold time delay, generating a message including a suggested correction for the localized formula error and sending the message including the suggested correction for the localized formula error to the display;

in response to detecting a formula sub-part, calculating a sub-value for the formula sub-part, generating a message including the sub-value, and sending the message including the sub-value to the display; and

if neither a global formula error nor a localized formula error is detected, calculating a value for the formula, generating a message including the value, and sending the message including the value to the display.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the method further comprises:

sending one of the message including the sub-value for the formula sub-part and the message including the suggested correction for the localized formula error to the display occurs in response to selection of the formula sub-part.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein at least two sub-values are calculated, and the formula sub-part selected within the analyzed text string includes one of the at least two sub-values.

17. The method of the computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the selection of the formula sub-part occurs in response to a delimiter being proximate to the formula sub-part in the text string containing one of the formula sub-value and the localized formula error.

18. The method of the computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the selection of the formula sub-part occurs in response to a cursor being proximate to the formula sub-part in the text string containing one of the formula sub-value and the localized formula error.

19. The method of the computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the selection of the formula sub-part occurs in response to a pointer hovering over the formula sub-part in the text string containing one of the formula sub-value and the localized formula error.