# US 2010/0169759 A1 · Systems and methods to create a multidimensional expression calculated member in a spreadsheet cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0169759 A1 - Document ID: US20100169759A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/344,757 - Filed: 2008-12-29 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-29 - Assignees: SAP France S.A. - Inventors: Pierre Jean Le Brazidec; Florent Migeon; Stephane Defauconpret; David Guillemet; Stephane Debart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169759A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management - G06F 40/18: of spreadsheets (form-filling G06F40/174) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract According to some embodiments, a system, method, means, and/or computer program code are provided to facilitate use of a spreadsheet application to access information stored in a multidimensional data source. Some embodiments include receiving, at an analyzer module, a change indication from the spreadsheet application. The change indication may be, for example, associated with a spreadsheet formula of the spreadsheet application entered by a user into a spreadsheet cell. In response to the change indication, the spreadsheet formula may be translated into a multidimensional expression calculation associated with the multidimensional data source. The spreadsheet formula in the spreadsheet cell may then be automatically replaced with information associated with the multidimensional expression calculation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions, to facilitate use of a spreadsheet application to access information stored in a multidimensional data source, that when executed by a processor result in the following: receiving, at an analyzer module, a change indication from the spreadsheet application, the change indication being associated with a spreadsheet formula of the spreadsheet application entered by a user into a spreadsheet cell; in response to the change indication, translating the spreadsheet formula into a multidimensional expression calculation associated with the multidimensional data source; and automatically replacing the spreadsheet formula in the spreadsheet cell with information associated with the multidimensional expression calculation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medium of claim 1, wherein the multidimensional expression calculation is associated with a source member, and the process steps further comprise: persisting information associated with the multidimensional expression calculation in the spreadsheet cell even when a cell associated with the source member is deleted or moved via the spreadsheet application. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medium of claim 1, wherein the process steps further comprise: prior to translating the spreadsheet formula, determining that the user-entered spreadsheet formula satisfies at least one pre-determined condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The medium of claim 3, wherein a pre-determined condition includes verifying that the spreadsheet cell where the user entered the spreadsheet formula comprises at least one of a free spreadsheet column or a free spreadsheet row. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The medium of claim 3, wherein the spreadsheet formula is associated with at least one source spreadsheet reference and a pre-determined condition includes verifying that: (i) all source spreadsheet references are relative references, or (ii) all source spreadsheet references are absolute references. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The medium of claim 3, wherein the spreadsheet formula is associated with at least one source spreadsheet cell and a pre-determined condition includes verifying that: (i) the spreadsheet formula is a row formula and all source spreadsheet cells are in a single spreadsheet column, or (ii) the spreadsheet formula is a column formula and all source spreadsheet cells are in a single spreadsheet row. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The medium of claim 3, wherein the pre-determined condition includes verifying that the spreadsheet formula is mapped to an equivalent multidimensional language statement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medium of claim 1, wherein the multidimensional data source comprises an online analytic processing cube and associated metadata structure, wherein the process steps further comprise: prior to receiving, pre-loading names associated with a plurality of members of online analytic processing cube defined in the associated metadata structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medium of claim 1, wherein the process steps further comprise: prior to receiving the change indication, receiving a user-defined name to be associated with the multidimensional expression calculation; and assigning the user-defined name to the multidimensional expression calculation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The medium of claim 1, wherein no user-define name was received prior to the receiving the change indication, and the process steps further comprise: assigning an analyzer module-generated name to the multidimensional expression calculation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The medium of claim 10, wherein the process steps further comprise: subsequent to said assigning, receiving a user-defined name in connection with the multidimensional expression calculation, and replacing the analyzer module-generated name with the user-defined name. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The medium of claim 1, wherein the translating and replacing can be deactivated by the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The medium of claim 1, wherein the process steps further comprise: providing to the user an indication that the translation and replacement were performed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The medium of claim 1, wherein the formula is associated with at least one of: (i) a sum, (ii) an average, (iii) an absolute value, (iv) a blank determination, (v) a Boolean operation, (vi) a conditional statement, (vii) a minimum determination, (viii) a maximum determination, (ix) a count operation, or (x) an evaluation of mathematical relationship. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The medium of claim 1, wherein the analyzer module comprises a registered automation add-in of the spreadsheet application. ### Claim 16 A system, comprising: a database storing information about a plurality of members; a spreadsheet component adapted to: receive a user-defined formula entered into a cell, and generate a change event in response to the formula defined by the user; and a spreadsheet add-in component adapted to: receive the change event from the spreadsheet component, translate the user-defined formula associated with the change event and create a component-defined formula associated with the database, and arrange for information associated with the component-defined formula to be placed into the cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the database is associated with a multi-dimensional data source. ### Claim 18 A method to facilitate a display to a user of information stored in an external database, comprising: receiving, at an analyzer add-in, a change indication from a spreadsheet application, the change indication being associated with a spreadsheet formula entered by a user into a spreadsheet cell; in response to the change indication, converting the spreadsheet formula into a calculated member associated with the external database; and replacing the spreadsheet formula in the spreadsheet cell with content associated with the calculated member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the external database further stores a metadata structure and at least one of said converting or replacing is performed in accordance with the metadata structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the external database comprises a database remote from a device executing the spreadsheet application and the analyzer add-in. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein said converting is performed based at least in part on information stored locally to the analyzer add-in. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the locally stored information includes member names associated with the external database.