US 2006/0190814 A1Published application

Importing and exporting markup language data in a spreadsheet application document

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsRobert Collie, Chad Rothschiller, Ulrich Homann, Joseph Chirilov, Kelly Lynch, Ramakrishnan Natarajan, Eoin Burke, Juha Niemisto, Michael McCormack, Parul Dalia, Marise Chan, James Rivera

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Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for importing markup language formatted data into a spreadsheet document and for exporting markup language formatted data from a spreadsheet document. XML data is associated with an XML schema file defining XML data types and data type definitions for applying XML data to the document. An XML data map is prepared that relates that any XML data applied to the document back to corresponding XML elements or attributes defined in the associated schema file. When the document is imported into a spreadsheet application grid, the data map is parsed to find XPATHs in the imported spreadsheet document of XML data and the user entered data. Each XPATH is executed to determine the location, data types and user data for each cell or list object in the document that is related back to the associated schema file. The cells and lists are populated with the XML data and user data, and the data is rendered in the spreadsheet according to the formatting dictated by the XML data applied to the spreadsheet in association with the XML schema file. After an imported document has been edited, or after a document is created to include the application of XML data in association with a selected XML schema file, the document may be exported such that the XML data applied to the document is maintained for subsequent import and use of the document.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of utilizing hierarchical data in a spreadsheet document, comprising:

selecting a data file containing the hierarchical data for importing into a spreadsheet document whereby the data file has applied hierarchical data mapped to a spreadsheet document, wherein the applied hierarchical data includes a plurality of fields;
identifying a hierarchical data mapping whereby each of the plurality of fields of the hierarchical data applied to the data file is mapped to an associated schema file for defining data definitions for the plurality of fields applied to the document;
parsing the data mapping to obtain pointers associated with the plurality of fields applied to the data file pointing to the applied plurality of fields of the associated schema file, whereby parsing the data mapping includes:
parsing the data mapping to obtain pointers referenced to positions in the data file associated with each of the plurality of fields applied to the data file for pointing each of the plurality of fields applied to the data file to a corresponding data definition in the schema file;
and
parsing the data mapping with a parser and obtaining an address for pointing to a particular node in the hierarchical data for each of the plurality of fields applied to the data file from the associated schema file;
executing each pointer to find locations of the plurality of fields applied to the data file;
executing each pointer to the schema file to obtain hierarchical data definitions applicable to the according to the schema file;
determining a layout for rendering the data file to a spreadsheet document based on the locations of each of the plurality of fields applied to the data file;
and
rendering the data file in a spreadsheet document whereby the plurality of fields in any user data associated with the plurality of fields are positioned in the document according to the layout.

8 more elements

A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions contained thereon which when executed by a computer perform the following steps for utilizing hierarchical data in a spreadsheet document:

selecting a data file containing the hierarchical data for importing into a spreadsheet document whereby the data file has applied hierarchical data mapped to a spreadsheet document, wherein the applied hierarchical data includes a plurality of fields;
identifying a hierarchical data mapping whereby each of the plurality of fields of the hierarchical data applied to the data file is mapped to an associated schema file for defining data definitions for the plurality of fields applied to the document;
parsing the data mapping to obtain pointers associated with the plurality of fields applied to the data file pointing to the applied plurality of fields of the associated schema file, whereby parsing the data mapping includes:
parsing the data mapping to obtain pointers referenced to positions in the data file associated with each of the plurality of fields applied to the data file for pointing each of the plurality of fields applied to the data file to a corresponding data definition in the schema file;
and
parsing the data mapping with a parser and obtaining an address for pointing to a particular node in the hierarchical data for each of the plurality of fields applied to the data file from the associated schema file;
executing each pointer to find locations of the plurality of fields applied to the data file;
executing each pointer to the schema file to obtain hierarchical data definitions applicable to the according to the schema file;
determining a layout for rendering the data file to a spreadsheet document based on the locations of each of the plurality of fields applied to the data file;
and
rendering the data file in a spreadsheet document whereby the plurality of fields in any user data associated with the plurality of fields are positioned in the document according to the layout.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/337,942Filed 23 Jan 2006
Priority: 28 Feb 2003
Published: 24 Aug 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06F 40/131
Use of codes for handling textual entities: fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using…
G06F 40/18
Of tables; using ruled lines: of spreadsheets
Y10S 707/99931
Data processing: database and file management or data structures: database or file accessing
Y10S 707/99943
Database schema or data structure: generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Family

Application10/377,145Continuation · filed 28 Feb 2003
Application11/337,942Continuation · filed 23 Jan 2006
US 2004/0172592 A1Published application
US 7,017,112 B2Related patent
US 7,640,493 B2Related patent
US 2006/0190814 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.