Importing and exporting markup language data in a spreadsheet application document

US7954046B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Robert C. Collie · Kirkland, US
• Chad Rothschiller · Edmonds, US
• Ulrich Homann · Kirkland, US
• Joseph Chirilov · Kirkland, US
• Kelly J. Lynch · Redmond, US
• Ramakrishnan Natarajan · Redmond, US
• Eoin Burke · Seattle, US
• Juha Niemisto · Mercer Island, US
• Michael J. McCormack · Snohomish, US
• Parul Dalia · Kirkland, US
• Marise Chan · Redmond, US
• James Rivera · Bellevue, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 9, 2005
• Grant date: May 31, 2011
• Expiry date: Dec 30, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99943
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

XML data is associated with an XML schema file defining XML data types and data type definitions for applying XML data to the document. An XML data map is prepared that relates that any XML data applied to the document back to corresponding XML elements or attributes defined in the associated schema file. When the document is imported into a spreadsheet application grid, the data map is parsed to find XPATHs in the imported spreadsheet document of XML data and the user entered data. After an imported document has been edited, or after a document is created to include the application of XML data in association with a selected XML schema file, the document may be exported such that the XML data applied to the document is maintained for subsequent import and use of the document.