US 8,621,340 B2 · Block properties and calculated columns in a spreadsheet application

Abstract

Block properties and improved calculated columns properties are provided in a spreadsheet application. Once block properties are set for a group of spreadsheet cells or a spreadsheet list, the properties may be applied to the entire group of selected cells or list as opposed to requiring application of properties to individual cells. If rows or columns are added to the group of selected cells or list, properties applied to the group of cells or list are automatically applied to the new rows or columns. Block properties also provide for intelligent-behaving list borders where list borders are not corrupted by the movement or changing of columns or rows sharing edges with a list border. Calculated columns are a type of block property that extends the functionality of formulas throughout an entire column of an associated group of cells or list.

A computer-readable medium excluding a signal, having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for applying formatting properties to a group of cells in a spreadsheet application document, the instructions comprising:

receiving a selection of a group of cells in a spreadsheet application workbook for application of a given formatting property;
wherein the selection of the group of cells comprises more than one workbook row and column;
wherein the selection is made using a cursor to select each of cells within the group of cells, wherein the selected group of cells becomes a block of cells such that an action that sets a property to a single cell within the block of cells is applied to each of the cells within the block of cells;
determining a position and identity the one or more workbook rows and columns making up the group of cells selected;
storing information about the identity, position and number of rows and number of columns selected for the selected group of cells;
applying the given formatting property to all of the selected group of cells;
receiving an indication to add additional cells to the spreadsheet application workbook;
wherein the additional cells comprise one of:
a new row of cells;
a new column of cells;
or a new row of cells and a new column of cells;
determining the location of the additional cells relative to an area defined by the selected group of cells;
wherein the location is determined by comparing the stored information for the selected group of cells with a position of the additional cells;
determining whether the addition of the additional cells to the selected group of cells is an expansion of the selected group of cells in response to determining that the additional cells are located immediately adjacent to the selected group of cells by:
determining when the additional row of cells is above the selected group of cells;
determining when the additional row of cells is below the selected group of cells when the additional cells added are the new row of cells and determining when the additional column of cells is to the right of the selected group of cells and determining when the additional column of cells is to the left of the selected group of cells when the additional cells added are the new column of cells;
automatically applying the given formatting property to all of the additional cells and updating the stored information about the identity, position and number of rows and number of columns for the selected group of cells such that the selected group of cells is updated in response to determining that the addition is an expansion of the selected group of cells;
and
in response to receiving a modification to a spreadsheet formula in a cell that was automatically applied to the cell and other cells within the group of cells, displaying a selectable user interface element within the cell that remains displayed in the cell to indicate that the modified spreadsheet formula is also included in the other cells within the group of cells and removing the displayed selectable user interface element from the cell when the modified spreadsheet formula in the cell is changed back to the spreadsheet formula applied to the other cells.

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Block properties and calculated columns in a spreadsheet application

Life of this patent

Block properties and calculated columns in a spreadsheet application

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18