Method, system, and computer-readable medium for determining whether to reproduce chart images calculated from a workbook

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to perform a method for determining whether to reproduce a chart image from the contents of a spreadsheet application workbook on a server, comprising:

• calculating chart data for defining a chart image from workbook data retrieved from the spreadsheet application workbook;
• generating a representation of the chart data;
• calculating an identifier for the representation of the chart data;
• caching the representation of the chart data and the calculated identifier;
• comparing the calculated identifier to a previously stored identifier on the server;
• if the calculated identifier is equal to the previously stored identifier, then retrieving a previously produced chart image from the representation of the chart data from the server;
• if the calculated identifier is not equal to the previously stored identifier, then producing a chart image from the representation of the chart data;
• and
• displaying the retrieved chart image in a web browser.