Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Oracle International Corporation

Mark S Igra

Kent Rogers Lowry

Eric Lawrence Matteson

Bradford H Lovering

Justin Michael Maguire

Matthew John Androski

Peter H Golde

Robert Wayne Coffen

Tom Corbett

Brian Frank

Jeanell D Sullivan

Andrew M P Milton

A master specification is provided to specify a common design for a number of resultant web pages to be generated. The common design includes common content placement, and at least one of a common style and a common navigation arrangement. The content of a first resultant web page is defined employing a first subordinate web page specification, including reference to the master specification for content placement, and at least one of style and navigation. The content of a second resultant web page is similarly defined. In turn, the first and second resultant web pages are generated with first and second contents being placed, styled and/or having the common navigation arrangement in accordance with the master specification.

Common design for web pages through employment of master specifications

A user can click on a spreadsheet cell to enter edit mode and alter the contents of the cell. Edit mode can be exited through a click and drag maneuver. The click and drag maneuver not only exits edit mode, but also selects a range of cells. The click and drag is performed by depressing a mouse button while the mouse indicator is positioned Over the edit cell, moving the mouse while holding the mouse button depressed, and releasing the mouse button when the end of the desired range of cells is reached. The range of selected cells starts with the edit cell and continues to the cell over which the mouse indicator was positioned when the mouse button was released.

Exiting a spreadsheet edit mode during a mouse drag operation

Formats are extended automatically to cells in an electronic spreadsheet. Previously blank, newly edited cell(s) are determined to be an extension or within a list of cells based on having a consistent data type, and the like. Next, formatting of the list of cells is examined for consistency. If consistent formatting exists, it is applied to the previously blank, newly edited cell(s). List of cells may include rows, columns, and the like.

Extension of formulas and formatting in an electronic spreadsheet

Spreadsheet cells are bound to external objects using a direct communication scheme having little processing overhead. A spreadsheet cell is bound to an object external to the spreadsheet, exposing a property or method of the object. The exposed property or method can then be used to update the value of the spreadsheet cell, either automatically when the exposed property changes, or in response to a request from the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is preferably a spreadsheet COM control, which is embedded in a web page that is preferably browsed with a Microsoft INTERNET EXPLORER&trade; browser. The external object is also preferably embedded in the web page and may include an automatic control that is used to acquire data over a network such as the Internet.

Binding spreadsheet cells to objects

Methods for automatically, without user instruction, extending a format and/or a formula to include a cell in an electronic spreadsheet. A previously blank newly edited cell may be determined to be an extension to or within a list of cells. A list of cells may be defined as a number of previous cells having a consistent data type. If a list of cells exists and the previously blank newly edited cell also includes the consistent data type, the previously blank newly edited cell is considered to be an extension of or within a list. The cells in the list are then examined for consistent formatting. If consistent formatting exists in the list, the consistent formatting is applied to the previously blank newly edited cell. Also, the cells in the list are examined for consistent formulas. The rows containing the cells in the list are each examined for a consistent formula having all supporting cells populated. If such a consistent formula is detected, it is applied to the row containing the previously blank newly edited cell. Also, the spreadsheet is scanned for aggregating formulas that reference the cells within the list. If an aggregating formula is discovered, it is updated to include the value of the data stored in the previously blank newly edited cell.

Editing cells within a spreadsheet to change the contents of a spreadsheet. To enter edit mode and alter the contents of a cell, the user first selects a cell by single clicking a mouse button while the mouse indicator is positioned above the cell. The user then initiates another single click when the mouse indicator is positioned above the selected cell. Once edit mode is active, the user may change the contents of the cell from within the web browser window as desired. Edit mode can be exited through one of three methods: an &ldquo;exit and save&rdquo; signal, an &ldquo;exit and discard&rdquo; signal, or a click and drag maneuver. The exit and save signal prompts the invention to save all changes to the cell that the user has made. The exit and discard signal prompts the invention to discard any changes made to the cell by the user, revert to the pre-edit mode contents of the edit cell, and exit edit mode. Finally, a click and drag maneuver not only exits edit mode, but selects a range of cells. The click and drag is performed by depressing a mouse button while the mouse indicator is positioned over the edit cell, moving the mouse while holding the mouse button depressed, and releasing the mouse button when the end of the desired range of cells is reached. The range of cells selected will then start with the edit cell and continue to the cell over which the mouse indicator was positioned when the mouse button was released.

System and method for editing a spreadsheet via an improved editing and cell selection model

A computer method and system for invoking a function member of an object that is exposed to a client computer program by a source computer program are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the source computer program instantiates the object which has a dispatching interface. The dispatching interface has an invoking function member for receiving a name of a function member and arguments for the function member. When a client computer program wishes to invoke the function member, the client computer program invokes the invoking function member of the dispatching interface passing the name of the function member and arguments for the function member. The invoking function member invokes the function member with the passed name passing the arguments. When the function member returns, the invoking function member returns to the client computer program.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Mark S Igra