Abstraction of formulas into reusable functions
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsMichelle Elena Keslin, Christopher John Gross, Joseph Mcdaid, Andrew James Becker, Su-Piao Bill Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A formula abstraction system is described. The system includes detecting a user-generated formula in a cell of a spreadsheet document, generating a graphical user interface that queries entries of a custom function based on the user-generated formula, forming the custom function by abstracting the user-generated formula to the custom function based on the entries, and storing the custom function in a function library of the spreadsheet document. The custom function applies the user-generated formula in a user-selected cell of the spreadsheet document.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method comprising:
- detecting a user-generated formula in a cell of a spreadsheet document;
- identifying an argument that is not specified in the user-generated formula, the argument indicating a variable name from the spreadsheet document, the user-generated formula indicating an operation on a value of the variable name without identifying the variable name;
- generating a graphical user interface that queries entries of a custom function based on the user-generated formula;
- forming the custom function by abstracting the user-generated formula to the custom function based on the entries and the argument;
- and
- storing the custom function in a function library of the spreadsheet document, the custom function being configured to apply the user-generated formula in a user-selected cell of the spreadsheet document.
A computing apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to:
- detect a user-generated formula in a cell of a spreadsheet document;
- identify an argument that is not specified in the user-generated formula, the argument indicating a variable name from the spreadsheet document, the user-generated formula indicating an operation on a value of the variable name without identifying the variable name;
- generate a graphical user interface that queries entries of a custom function based on the user-generated formula;
- form the custom function by abstracting the user-generated formula to the custom function based on the entries and the argument;
- and
- store the custom function in a function library of the spreadsheet document, the custom function being configured to apply the user-generated formula in a user-selected cell of the spreadsheet document.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
- detect a user-generated formula in a cell of a spreadsheet document;
- identify an argument that is not specified in the user-generated formula, the argument indicating a variable name from the spreadsheet document, the user-generated formula indicating an operation on a value of the variable name without identifying the variable name;
- generate a graphical user interface that queries entries of a custom function based on the user-generated formula;
- form the custom function by abstracting the user-generated formula to the custom function based on the entries and the argument;
- and
- store the custom function in a function library of the spreadsheet document, the custom function being configured to apply the user-generated formula in a user-selected cell of the spreadsheet document.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.