System and methods for improved spreadsheet interface with user-familiar objects
DCFirst Claim
1. In a computer system comprising a processor coupled to a storage device, a display, and an input device, a method of processing three-dimensional spreadsheet information comprising the steps, performed by the computer system, of:
- displaying a first page array of rows and columns of cells on said display, said cells for displaying data values stored in said storage device and for displaying calculated values from spreadsheet formulas based on data values stored in said storage device, each cell having a unique cell address formed from a page, a row, and a column location for the cell, said first page array obscuring a plurality of other page arrays including second and third page arrays, said first, second, and third page arrays being stored in a single disk file;
while displaying said first page array, displaying first, second, and third page identifiers identifying said first, second, and third page arrays, respectively, with said first page identifier appearing as a notebook tab and having a user-settable page name label for identifying said first page array, and said second and third page identifiers appearing as notebook tabs and each having a user-settable page name label for identifying said second and third page arrays, respectively, said first page array having a spreadsheet formula storing a cell address for a given cell located on said second page array, said stored cell address comprising said user-settable page name label for said second page array and row and column locations for said given cell;
selecting said second page array of cells in response to input from said user input device; and
in response to said selecting step, displaying said second page array of cells while simultaneously displaying said first, second, and third page identifiers, with said second page array obscuring said first and third page arrays, said second page identifier appearing as a notebook tab for identifying said second page array, and said first and third page identifiers appearing as notebook tabs for identifying said first and third page arrays, respectively.
2 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic spreadsheet system of the present invention includes a notebook interface having a plurality of notebook pages, each of which may contain a spread of information cells, or other desired page type (e.g., Graphs page). Methods are provided for rapidly accessing and processing information on the different pages, including displaying a plurality of page identifiers for selecting individual pages, and further including a preferred syntax for referencing information. Additional methods are provided for editing cells and blocks of cells.
76 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. In a computer system comprising a processor coupled to a storage device, a display, and an input device, a method of processing three-dimensional spreadsheet information comprising the steps, performed by the computer system, of:
-
displaying a first page array of rows and columns of cells on said display, said cells for displaying data values stored in said storage device and for displaying calculated values from spreadsheet formulas based on data values stored in said storage device, each cell having a unique cell address formed from a page, a row, and a column location for the cell, said first page array obscuring a plurality of other page arrays including second and third page arrays, said first, second, and third page arrays being stored in a single disk file; while displaying said first page array, displaying first, second, and third page identifiers identifying said first, second, and third page arrays, respectively, with said first page identifier appearing as a notebook tab and having a user-settable page name label for identifying said first page array, and said second and third page identifiers appearing as notebook tabs and each having a user-settable page name label for identifying said second and third page arrays, respectively, said first page array having a spreadsheet formula storing a cell address for a given cell located on said second page array, said stored cell address comprising said user-settable page name label for said second page array and row and column locations for said given cell; selecting said second page array of cells in response to input from said user input device; and in response to said selecting step, displaying said second page array of cells while simultaneously displaying said first, second, and third page identifiers, with said second page array obscuring said first and third page arrays, said second page identifier appearing as a notebook tab for identifying said second page array, and said first and third page identifiers appearing as notebook tabs for identifying said first and third page arrays, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification