Borland International, Inc.

Max E Montgomery

Steven Ray Boye

Percy L Spencer, Ii

Michael J Watson

An electronic spreadsheet system of the present invention includes a Formula Composer having a preferred interface and methods for assisting a user with composing spreadsheet formulas. The Composer provides the user with simultaneous formula outline and subexpression (text) views of a given formula. Using the formula outline view, the user may isolate a particular portion (subexpression) of a formula for editing. The Formula Composer also provides a Formula Expert, which is displayed by the system upon the user selecting a spreadsheet function in a formula being edited. In addition to providing specific information about the selected spreadsheet function, the Formula Expert provides input fields which are specific for the arguments of the selected function. Moreover, the Formula Expert includes mode expressions or 'templates' for assisting users in inputting correct argument information. Using pattern matching technique, the system may employ the templates for eliminating common user input mistakes. Methods are described for synchronizing the various views of the Formula Composer, so that a modification to the formula being edited by the user in one view is automatically and immediately propagated to the other views. In this fashion, all views remain synchronized during formula editing, thus allowing the user to easily switch among the views.

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Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Max E Montgomery