Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Alexander Martynov

Howard J Dickerman

Kristin Michele Tolle

Eran Megiddo

Robert G Hawking

Daniel C Battagin

Johnny S Campbell

David Francis Gainer

Eric W Patterson

Brian L Welcker

Liviu Asnash

Ira Levin

Brian W Boon

Patrick J King

An autocomplete method and system provides suggested completions for partial data entries based upon predefined coordinates, operands and/or commands. In one embodiment, the partial data entry may be in an active cell of a spreadsheet and the predefined coordinates may be queried from a separate, preconfigured, multi-dimensional database linked to the active cell or the spreadsheet.

Autocompleting with queries to a database

A user interface is provided for allowing a user to quickly and easily connect to data and other informational sources. A user can use a user interface to interact with a collection of connection files to quickly and easily connect to various data sources and other informational sources. The user interface is configured to make data sources available at a glance, providing a user with a convenient and comprehensive display of the data sources. The user interface is designed to be a simplified experience for data import that is helpful to both novice and more experienced users in that the data is presented simply without a lot of extraneous information.

Locating, viewing and interacting with information sources

Embodiments of present application treat Connection Information Files contained in an instance of an application, such as a workbook, as independent objects and multiple data objects, such as data summary tables, may link to one Connection Information File. Maintaining Connection Information Files as independent objects within an instance of an application provides the ability to modify a connection to an external data source and have that modification applied to all linked data objects without having to modify each data object individually. Additionally, a user may view a complete list of all Connection Information Files that exist within a workbook and easily add, delete, or modify those Connection Information Files.

Management of connections to external data

A method, system, and apparatus for discovering and connecting to data sources are provided. A system is provided that includes a server computer operative to maintain a centrally managed repository of data connection definitions. A client computer is also provided including an application program capable of consuming data from a data source. When a request is received by the application to connect to a data source, a list of available sources is retrieved from the server computer. If one of the data sources in the list is selected, a data connection file is retrieved and utilized to connect to the data source. If a report is opened by the application that includes a reference to a data source, the repository is utilized to confirm the connection to the data source.

Method, system, and apparatus for discovering and connecting to data sources

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Sammamish, WA, United States of America

Alexander Martynov