Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Uhl Albert

John S Campbell

Carlos Augusto Otero

Aaron Lamar Wilson

Allison Jane Rutherford

Steve Tullis

Daniel Yancy Parish

Pablo Rochat

Sam C Radakovitz

Samuel C Radakovitz

Eric W Patterson

Micah James Myerscough

Catherine Anne Harley

David Gustafson

Marta Luis Burguete

Fei Wu

Samuel Chow Radakovitz

Matthew Fichtner

Natural gestures for interacting with spreadsheet documents are provided. A user may interact with a spreadsheet document using a variety of touch-based gestures. Gestures applied to a spreadsheet document may be used for making structural and display changes to the document. For example, gestures may be used on the spreadsheet document for inserting new columns and rows; for revealing hidden columns and rows; for deleting columns and rows; for extending functionalities across columns and rows; for moving objects displayed in a spreadsheet document; and for navigating various parts of a spreadsheet document.

Natural quick function gestures

Technologies are described herein for displaying one or more visual indicators to assist users in identifying cells of a spreadsheet that are affected by an operation. In embodiments disclosed herein, an application is configured to receive a request to perform an operation on at least one cell of the spreadsheet. The application then identifies cells of the spreadsheet that are affected by the operation. The application then displays a visual indicator to emphasize the affected cells. By providing a timely displayed visual indicator that brings attention to affected cells, the user is able to gain a better perspective of the extent of the operation and how the operation applies to the cells of the spreadsheet.

Enhanced indicators for identifying affected data

A smart fill feature is provided, which may be utilized to provide suggestions to a user and to prepopulate fill results in a spreadsheet. Characteristics associated with a set of data may be recognized and used to help determine fill results Suggestions may be determined from internal and or/external data sources, and may use contextual information in a data set to determine what a user may be trying to accomplish. External data sources may include one or more Internet data sources or internal corporate databases, providing a large amount of data from which to search for potential fill results. A split column command may be used to split a column into two or more columns. Data may be split between columns or combined by various methods, which may include, by example, by direct manipulation via tokens, or via a slider UI.

Method and system for providing autofill of data

Conversion of data ranges to table objects in an electronic spreadsheet document is provided. When an electronic spreadsheet document is being utilized, data ranges may be automatically converted to tables to allow the user to enjoy the full benefits of the table properties and functionalities. When a data range is automatically converted to a table object, a user will be given an opportunity to revert the table object back to the data range from which it was converted. Instead of automatic conversion, a suggestion may be provided to a user before a data range is converted to a table object. If the user accepts the suggestion, then the data range may be automatically converted to a table object.

Conversion of data ranges to table objects

Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques and apparatuses to present a dynamic formula bar in a spreadsheet application. Some embodiments are particularly directed to presenting a dynamic formula bar in a spreadsheet application that may improve usability in particular with large display sizes and/or touchscreen interfaces. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a processor circuit and a spreadsheet user interface (UI) component executing on the processor circuit to present a grid comprising cells arranged in rows and columns. The spreadsheet UI component may include a formula bar interface component operative to display a formula bar UI element adjacent to a first cell in response to receiving a control directive selecting the first cell. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Techniques to present a dynamic formula bar in a spreadsheet

Simplified data and/or syntax entry in electronic documents is provided. Custom user interface components and selectable controls may be provided that may float on a displayed document and allow for easier data or syntax input. Electronic inking gestures may be used for entry of data and/or programming syntax in an electronic scratch pad and/or directly on top of a displayed electronic document. Gestures (e.g., screen touches) may be used for selecting document components (e.g., spreadsheet ranges) followed by an interpretation by the associated application of the user's gestures. A variety of disambiguation displays, interactions and/or hints may be provided to help a user clarify ambiguous UI selections.

Simplified data input in electronic documents

Smart fill

A smart selection engine is provided. The smart selection engine may run in the context of a spreadsheet application on any device, service, or general endpoint capable of running the spreadsheet application. The smart selection engine reduces the cognitive load and complexity for performing spreadsheet operations by clearly presenting the user with easy to use and understand options that are big, simple, and lend themselves nicely to natural user interfaces, touch enabled devices, and devices with small displays as well as with graphical user interfaces, larger displays, and traditional input devices. By making contextually based suggestions, the smart selection engine reduces or eliminates the need for the user to be aware of the available operations or how to perform the operations. Further, the smart selection engine improves the consistency and efficiency of working with a spreadsheet.

Suggesting a set of operations applicable to a selected range of data in a spreadsheet

A spreadsheet storytelling engine is provided. The spreadsheet storytelling engine may run in the context of a spreadsheet application on any device, service, or general endpoint capable of running the spreadsheet application. The spreadsheet storytelling engine allows for the authoring and telling of a story. The story is a collection of operations that guide the consumer through a spreadsheet. The story allows the spreadsheet to be used to convey visualizations, data, calculations, or other objects in a spreadsheet in a way that may be simple, pleasant to look at, and/or visually engaging to help a consumer understand the information and internalize it in a way that is actionable without requiring the real time availability of the spreadsheet author. The spreadsheet storytelling engine is useful for purposes including, but not limited to, making presentations, creating tutorials, validating data, explaining how a model works, and generating interactive business intelligence dashboards.

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Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Uhl Albert