Methods for composing formulas in an electronic spreadsheet system

A data processing system for creating syntactically-correct formulas from data entered by a user, each of said formulas evaluating to a result, the system comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a memory;
• means for storing in said memory information specifying valid formulas;
• input means for receiving user input for entering a particular formula comprising a plurality of subexpressions;
• means for parsing said input into a plurality of formula nodes for representing said plurality of subexpressions, based on said rules, each formula node storing a subexpression of said particular formula;
• and
• means for presenting to the user said subexpressions in outline format, by presenting an outline comprising said plurality of formula nodes.

A data processing system for creating syntactically-correct formulas from data entered by a user, each of said formulas evaluating to a result, the system comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a memory;
• means for storing in said memory information specifying valid formulas;
• input means for receiving user input for entering said formulas;
• means for parsing said input into a plurality of subexpressions, based on said rules, wherein said means for parsing comprises:
• means for compiling said user input into a sequence of opcodes, and
• means for creating a tree of formula nodes based on said sequence of opcodes;
• and
• means for presenting to the user said subexpressions in outline format.

A data processing system for creating syntactically-correct formulas from data entered by a user, each of said formulas evaluating to a result, the system comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a memory;
• means for storing in said memory information specifying valid formulas, wherein said means for storing information specifying valid formulas includes:
• means for storing templates for built-in functions, and
• means for comparing user input against said templates, for identifying a particular one of the built-in functions;
• input means for receiving user input for entering said formulas;
• means for parsing said input into a plurality of subexpressions, based on said rules;
• and
• means for presenting to the user said subexpressions in outline format.

A data processing system for creating syntactically-correct formulas from data entered by a user, each of said formulas evaluating to a result, the system comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a memory;
• means for storing in said memory information specifying valid formulas;
• input means for receiving user input for entering said formulas;
• means for parsing said input into a plurality of subexpressions, based on said rules;
• and
• means for presenting to the user said subexpressions in outline format, wherein said means for presenting said subexpressions in outline format includes:
• means for displaying said subexpressions in collapsible outline format, so that level of detail displayed can be varied by the user.

An information system for entering syntactically-correct subexpressions from data entered by a user, the subexpressions combining to form a formula, the system comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a memory;
• means for storing in said memory information specifying valid subexpressions;
• input means for receiving user input for entering subexpressions for a particular formula being created;
• means for parsing said user input into a plurality of formula nodes for representing said plurality of subexpressions, based on said information specifying valid subexpressions, each formula node storing a subexpression of said particular formula;
• and
• means for presenting the formula being created as a formula outline comprising said plurality of formula nodes.

An information system for entering syntactically-correct subexpressions from data entered by a user, the subexpressions combining to form a formula, the system comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a memory;
• means for storing in said memory information specifying valid subexpressions;
• input means for receiving user input for entering subexpressions for a formula being created, wherein said input means for receiving user input includes:
• an input device,
• a display device for displaying an edit field, and
• means for updating the formula outline based on input received at said edit field;
• and
• means for presenting the formula being created as a formula outline;
• wherein said means for updating the formula outline includes:
• means for deleting a portion of the formula outline corresponding to a subexpression which has been deleted from the formula in response to said input received at said edit field;
• means for parsing said input received at said edit field;
• and
• means for updating the formula outline to display an outline representation illustrating a new subexpression which has been added to the formula, based on the parsed input.

An information system for entering syntactically-correct subexpressions from data entered by a user, the subexpressions combining to form a formula, the system comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a memory;
• means for storing in said memory information specifying valid subexpressions:
• input means for receiving user input for entering subexpressions for a formula being created;
• means for presenting the formula being created as a formula outline;
• pattern matching means for comparing user input against function templates stored in the memory, so that a particular function can be identified in the user input;
• and
• means for displaying function input fields for an identified function, said input fields for receiving user input for specific parameters of the identified function.

An information system for entering syntactically-correct subexpressions from data entered by a user, the subexpressions combining to form a formula, the system comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a memory;
• means for storing in said memory information specifying valid subexpressions;
• input means for receiving user input for entering subexpressions for a formula being created;
• means for presenting the formula being created as a formula outline;
• error detection means for detecting an error in a particular subexpression which has been entered for a formula;
• and
• error indication means for indicating on the formula outline the particular subexpression which is in error.

In a system for processing formulas entered by a user, the formulas including built-in functions having parameters for receiving user-supplied information, an improved method for entering a formula comprising:

• (a) storing for each function information describing correct syntax for entering functions, wherein said information describing a correct syntax includes for each function a function name and information describing parameters for the function;
• (b) entering a formula having at least one function;
• (c) receiving user input for selecting a particular function in said entered formula;
• (d) identifying said selected function by comparing it against said information describing a correct syntax for entering the function;
• (e) if said selected function is identified in step (d), displaying input fields for parameters of said selected function;
• (f) receiving user input at said input fields;
• and
• (g) completing entry for the formula by substituting the user input of step (f) into said selected function;
• wherein said information describing parameters for the function comprise a template for that function, and wherein at least some of the functions have multiple templates, so that common input formats for a given function can be detected automatically by the system.

In a system for processing formulas entered by a user, the formulas including built-in functions having parameters for receiving user-supplied information, an improved method for entering a formula comprising:

• (a) storing for each function information describing correct syntax for entering functions;
• (b) entering a formula having at least one function;
• (c) receiving user input selecting a particular function in said entered formula;
• (d) identifying said selected function by comparing it against said information describing a correct syntax for entering the function;
• (e) if said selected function is identified in step (d), displaying input fields for parameters of said selected function;
• (f) receiving user input at said input fields;
• (g) completing entry for the formula by substituting the user input of step (f) into said selected function;
• (h) displaying a list of range names proximate the input fields, each of said range names specifying a particular set of information cells which can serve as input to a function;
• (i) receiving a request from the user for selecting one of the range names from the list while editing an input field;
• and
• (j) copying the selected range name into the input field being edited.

In a system for processing formulas entered by a user, the formulas including built-in functions having parameters for receiving user-supplied information, an improved method for entering a formula comprising:

• (a) storing for each function information describing correct syntax for entering functions;
• (b) entering a formula having at least one function;
• (c) receiving user input selecting a particular function in said entered formula;
• (d) identifying said selected function by comparing it against said information describing a correct syntax for entering the function;
• (e) if said selected function is identified in step (d), displaying input fields for parameters of said selected function;
• (f) receiving user input at said input fields;
• (g) completing entry for the formula by substituting the user input of step (f) into said selected function;
• (h) performing a substring match between the selected function and said information describing a correct syntax for entering the function;
• (i) assigning a score to each match, based on correlation between substrings;
• and
• (j) determining a correct syntax based on a match having a highest score.

In an electronic spreadsheet system for modeling user-specified information in a data model, said data model comprising information cells storing user-supplied data and user-supplied formulas operative on said data, some of said cells having user-supplied range names, a method for assisting the user with correctly entering formulas, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving user input for entering a formula;
• (b) displaying said user input in an edit field;
• (c) displaying a drop-down list of range names proximate said edit field;
• (d) receiving a user request selecting a particular range name from said list of range names;
• and
• (e) completing entry for the formula by copying the particular range name into said formula being entered.