Methodology for testing spreadsheet grids
US6766509B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 27, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 27, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F40/18
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention includes two methods for testing a spreadsheet region. Du-associations are collected for the spreadsheet region. In the Straightforward approach, du-associations are collected for each cell in the region. Each cell's execution trace is tracked. After the user validates a cell, the du-associations for the cell that participated in the execution trace are marked as executed. In the Region Representative approach, a region representative represents the region. Each cell's execution trace is tracked. After the user validates a cell, the du-associations for the region representative that participated in the execution trace for the validated cell are marked as executed. Du-associations for other cells that are affected by the testing of a spreadsheet region are similarly marked as covered. If the user changes a shared non-constant formula, the collected du-associations for the region are discarded and the steps of collecting test elements and tracking execution traces are repeated. Cells that depend on the changed cell also partially discard and collect anew test elements and repeat the tracking step. The invention also includes a method for providing a user with feedback o…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.