Data processing apparatus and method for a reformattable multidimensional spreadsheet
US5317686A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 31, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F40/18
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Spreadsheet apparatus enables reformatting and renaming of items forming the spreadsheet. A series of items forms a dimension along an axis of the spreadsheet. A label icon or labelling entity is user nameable to describe the series of items of an axis. Repositioning of the label icons repositions respective series of items and thus redefines/rearranges the axes of the spreadsheet. Sub-axes to an axis are similarly formed by series of items associated with a respective label icon. Order of label icons in predefined areas of a working screen view determine hierarchy of main axis and sub-axes for the label icons. There is a different predefined area for the possible vertical axes, possible horizontal axes, and the possible orthogonal axes of the spreadsheet. A cell module holds spreadsheet data in a matrix of memory cells. A symbol table translates between current specified names of items in the spreadsheet and indexes to cells of the cell module. Thus, a user is able to rearrange and/or relabel icons in the spreadsheet screen view to reformat the spreadsheet, and the supporting computer members provide display of the spreadsheet rearranged according to position of the icons without …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.