Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Other

Howard J Dickerman

Marius Dumitru

Amir Netz

Paul Jonathon Sanders

Akshai Mirchandani

Yutong (Jeffrey) Wang

Robert G Hawking

Charles David Ellis

Benjamin A Mejia

Brian W Boon

Anand Bheemarajaiah

Alexander Martynov

Yutong Wang

Kaicheng Hu

Xiaoqing Tang

Srinivasan S Turuvekere

Vjacheslav Min

David Francis Gainer

Anatoly V Grabar

Alexander A Babanov

Venkata Srinivas Irava

Patrick J King

Joshua J Burkholder

Methods and systems are disclosed for receiving and processing data analysis expressions. A particular method includes receiving a data analysis expression at a pivot table of a spreadsheet. The data analysis expression is executed for a particular cell of the pivot table by determining a context associated with the particular cell, calculating a value of the data analysis expression based on the context, and outputting the calculated value at the particular cell.

Data analysis expressions

Systems and devices for coordinating heterogeneous processes of a software application to comply with multiple address spaces or other computing system constraints are disclosed. In an example, operations for coordinating data processing among multiple processes of a software application include: executing a first process of the software application, as the first process operates with a first capability that is limited to an operational constraint of the computing system; initiating a second process of the software application, as the second process is initiated as a child of the first process, and as the second process operates with a second capability that exceeds the operational constraint of the computing system; communicating data from the first process of the software application to the second process; and receiving data from the second process of the software application, in response to the data being processed by the data analysis operations of the second process.

Address space splitting for legacy application compatibility

In various embodiments, methods and systems for cross-filtering based on configurable direct relationships are provided. A selection of a first endpoint of a first table and a second endpoint of a second table is received. A direct relationship object is configured between the first table and the second table based on the first endpoint and the second endpoint. A cross-filtering direction and endpoint cardinality settings can also be configured for the direct relationship object. The direct relationship object may be configured as a many-to-one, one-to-many, or one-to-one. Automatic cross-filtering is configurable and can be set to cross-filter in one direction, the reverse direction, or both directions, with bidirectional cross filtering being a default configuration. The direct relationship object between the first endpoint and the second is configurable, such that, cross-filtering the first table and the second table to select rows for cross-filtering results is based on the cross-filtering direction.

Bidirectional cross-filtering in analysis service systems

A relationship amongst multiple relationships between database tables can be specified independent of a query. More specifically, a function (USERELATIONSHIP) can be introduced to the DAX language (Data Analysis Expressions), which provides a way to author formulas that are not evaluated immediately, but that can be evaluated dynamically and concurrently in many different contexts. The function enables a single relationship to be specified in the calculation formula away from the query. This provides a mechanism within the formula that specifies specific relationship(s) that are to be followed when the dynamic expression is evaluated.

Specification of database table relationships for calculation

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

Cube functions may be used to obtain data from a multidimensional database. The cube functions may be contained within one or more cells of a spreadsheet. These cube functions behave similarly to the standard functions that may be included within a spreadsheet. Exemplary cube functions include obtaining: a cube member, a cube value, a cube set, a ranked member, a KPI, a member property and a count relating to a set. The cube functions within the spreadsheet may access the cube data from one or more multidimensional databases. Using the cube formulas in individual cells allows the user to add/delete rows and/or columns from within the spreadsheet.

Multidimensional cube functions

Data corresponding to a structured report or multi-dimensional presentation is converted to formulas within cells of a spreadsheet. The cell formulas operate on a multi-dimension database that was the data source for the structured report. Therefore the layout of the data in the cells is similar to the layout of the data in structured report. The user is able to move the formulas around in the spreadsheet resulting in any custom layout the user desires. Because the data is no longer in a structured report, it is no longer subject to the layout restrictions of the report.

Converting structured reports to formulas

The present invention generally relates to new and improved embodiments of methods and systems for capturing and providing arbitrarily rich data to be stored or manipulated within a spreadsheet. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for creating spreadsheet metadata comprises receiving an item in a spreadsheet, receiving item metadata about the item, and associating the item metadata with the item to create spreadsheet metadata.

Method and system to associate cell and item metadata

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

Arrangements and procedures for arranging peer-to-peer communications sessions between applications are described. In one implementation, a first application executing at a first device utilizes online presence information of an instant messaging service to select a second application with which to engage in the peer-to-peer session. The second application is associated with a second device and registered with the instant messaging service as being peer-to-peer session invite capable. The first application arranges the peer-to-peer session via components of the instant messaging service. The arranged peer-to-peer session is functionally independent of the instant messaging service.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Howard J Dickerman