Method and apparatus for entering and manipulating spreadsheet cell data

A method for treating a handwritten graphic element as data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:

• sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points;
• creating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change of position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled;
• automatically identifying a cell from said spreadsheet as a target cell for said graphic element;
• and
• storing said descriptors for said graphic element in memory as data from said spreadsheet.

A method for scaling a handwritten graphic element as data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:

• sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points;
• creating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change in position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled;
• determining a first dimension of said graphic element;
• determining a first dimension of a display area of said cell;
• determining a first scale factor for scaling said descriptors of said graphic element;
• and
• creating a scaled copy of said graphic element using said first scale factor, said scaled copy having a first dimension equal to or less than said first dimension of said display area of said cell.

With respect to a spreadsheet displayed on a display screen, a method for determining a target cell to which a handwritten graphic element, also displayed on said display screen, is directed, comprising the steps of:

• identifying a display reference point for said graphic element;
• determining a cell of said spreadsheet within which said display reference point is located;
• and
• designating said cell of said spreadsheet within which said display reference point is located as said target cell for said graphic element.

A method for processing and storing a handwritten graphic element generated on a display at a first level of magnification as data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:

• sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points;
• generating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change in position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled;
• determining a first reference measurement for said first magnification level;
• converting said descriptors to relative descriptors comprising relative units of measure based on said first reference measurement;
• and
• storing said relative descriptors as data representing said graphic element for said spreadsheet cell.

A method for processing and storing a handwritten graphic element generated on a display at a first level of magnification as data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:

• sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points;
• generating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change in position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled;
• determining a magnification level identifier for said first level of magnification;
• and
• storing said descriptors and said magnification level identifier as data representing said graphic element for said cell.

A method for displaying a handwritten graphic element generated on a display at a first level of magnification as data for a spreadsheet cell at a second level of magnification, comprising the steps of:

• sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points;
• generating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change in position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled;
• determining a display factor representing a ratio of said second level of magnification to said first level of magnification;
• generating scaled descriptors by scaling said descriptors by said display factor;
• and
• displaying a scaled graphic element described by said scaled descriptors on said display at said second level of magnification.