# US 2014/0195887 A1 · Filter and sort by format > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195887 A1 - Document ID: US20140195887A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/202,645 - Filed: 2014-03-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2004-12-15 - Assignees: Microsoft Corporation - Applicants: Microsoft Corporation - Inventors: Charles D. Ellis; David F. Gainer; Samuel C. Radakovitz; Yonghong Zeng; Dave McDonald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195887A1 ## CPC - G06F 40/18: of spreadsheets (form-filling G06F40/174) - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 40/106: Display of layout of documents; Previewing - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract The present invention comprises methods and user interfaces for organizing data displayed within a data application. Specifically, the present invention provides methods and systems for arranging the display of the data by a format applied to one or more portions of the data. The formats comprise different visual characteristics of the displayed data. In exemplary embodiments, the data application organizes the data by the fill color of the cell, the font color of the data within the cell, or the type of icon inserted into the cell. The organizations comprise any type of rearrangement of the data. In exemplary embodiments, the data application sorts or filters the displayed data according to the format. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and one or more user interface selection devices, a method for displaying one or more selections to organize, by a format, a data selection in a data application, comprising: displaying a control to organize the data selection by a type of organization; receiving a selection of the control; and in response to the selection of the control, displaying a menu with one or more menu items to organize the data selection by the type of organization and one or more formats. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, wherein the menu has one or more portions and the one or more portions comprise one or more menu items for organizing by a type of format. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method of claim 2, wherein the type of format comprises one of a cell format, a font format, or a cell icon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A method of claim 2, wherein the one or more menu items display a format by which to organize the data selection, wherein the formats displayed are formats used in the data selection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method of claim 4, wherein a format manager is scanned for the formats used in the data selection and the formats used in the format manager comprise the one or more menu items displayed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, wherein the format is color. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method of claim 6, wherein the color is the color of an active cell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, wherein the type of organization comprises one of a filter or a sort. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a right click of a mouse on a cell; and in response to the right click of the mouse, displaying a window with the control. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying an organization control in the data selection; receiving a selection of the organization control; and in response to the selection of the organization control, displaying the control. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method of claim 10, wherein the organization control is an icon that represents a current type of organization applied to the data selection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a selection of the menu item; and in response to receiving a selection of the menu item, organizing the data selection according to the type of organization and the format. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method of claim 12, further comprising: establishing an organization state; receiving focus on the data selection; and displaying the organization state. ### Claim 14 In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and one or more user interface selection devices, a method for displaying one or more selections to organize, by a format, a data selection in a data application, comprising: displaying a window; receiving a data selection in a dialog box; receiving a selection of organization by a type of format in a first control box; and receiving a selection of the format in a second control box. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving a second data selection in a second dialog box; receiving a second selection of organization by a type of format in a third control box; and receiving a second selection of a format in a fourth control box. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving a second data selection in a second dialog box; receiving a second selection of organization by a type of format in a third control box; and receiving a second selection of a format in a fourth control box. ### Claim 17 A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for organizing items of formatted data displayed in a data application, performing steps comprising: receiving a selection of data to organize; receiving a selection of a format by which to organize the selection of data; and organizing the selection of data according to the selection of format. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the format comprises one of a fill color, a font color, or an icon type. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein organizing the selection of data comprises one of sorting the selection of data or filtering the selection of data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising: receiving a selection of an active cell; displaying a control to organize a selection of data by a format of the active cell; receiving a selection of the control; and organizing the selection of data according to the format of the active cell.