The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 03, 1997
Jeffrey J Johnson, Bellevue, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for inserting a selected graphic control within a spreadsheet, chart, or dialog sheet. The graphic control can be selected from a Forms button toolbar and then positioned within a desired workspace of a spreadsheet program. The graphic controls provided on the Forms button toolbar include a check box, an option box, a list box, a drop-down box, a combination list-edit box, a combination drop-down list-edit box, a scrollbar, and a spinner. A Format Object properties dialog box is also provided on the Forms button toolbar to enable the user to set various parameters for the graphic control. These parameters include an identification of the cell within the spreadsheet to which the graphic control is bi-directionally linked. If the user manipulates the graphic control, a value in the spreadsheet cell that is linked to the graphic control changes in a corresponding fashion. Similarly, any change to the spreadsheet cell linked to the graphic control is reflected within the graphic control. With this tool, the user can apply graphic controls to the spreadsheet program without requiring the user be skilled in programming.