Multiple datapoint formats in spreadsheets
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorDerek LIDDELL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein that allow multiple values to be stored and referenced individually in a spreadsheet or table cell. In an implementation, an application identifies a format of a cell in a spreadsheet with a format having multiple data points. The application receives multiple values corresponding to the multiple data points and stores each value of the multiple values in the cell as a separately referenceable value with respect to each other value of the multiple values. In some implementations, formulas in other cells or sub-routines can reference an individual one of the values in the cell.
Claims20
A computing apparatus comprising:
- one or more computer readable storage media;
- one or more processors operatively coupled with the one or more computer readable storage media;
- and
- program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media that, when executed by the one or more processors, direct the computing apparatus to at least:
- identify a format of a cell in a spreadsheet, wherein the cell includes a format comprising multiple data points;
- receive multiple values corresponding to the multiple data points;
- and
- store each value of the multiple values in the cell as a separately referenceable value with respect to each other value of the multiple values.
A method of operating a computing device comprising:
- on the computing device, identifying a format of a cell in a spreadsheet, wherein the cell includes a format comprising multiple data points;
- on the computing device, receiving multiple values corresponding to the multiple data points;
- and
- on the computing device, storing each value of the multiple values in the cell as a separately referenceable value with respect to each other value of the multiple values.
One or more computer readable storage media having program instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, direct a computing apparatus to at least:
- identify a format of a cell in a spreadsheet, wherein the cell includes a format comprising multiple data points;
- receive multiple values corresponding to the multiple data points;
- and
- store each value of the multiple values in the cell as a separately referenceable value with respect to each other value of the multiple values.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.