Patent ID: 8621340
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-readable medium excluding a signal, having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for applying formatting properties to a group of cells in a spreadsheet application document, the instructions comprising: receiving a selection of a group of cells in a spreadsheet application workbook for application of a given formatting property; wherein the selection of the group of cells comprises more than one workbook row and column; wherein the selection is made using a cursor to select each of cells within the group of cells, wherein the selected group of cells becomes a block of cells such that an action that sets a property to a single cell within the block of cells is applied to each of the cells within the block of cells; determining a position and identity the one or more workbook rows and columns making up the group of cells selected; storing information about the identity, position and number of rows and number of columns selected for the selected group of cells; applying the given formatting property to all of the selected group of cells; receiving an indication to add additional cells to the spreadsheet application workbook; wherein the additional cells comprise one of: a new row of cells; a new column of cells; or a new row of cells and a new column of cells; determining the location of the additional cells relative to an area defined by the selected group of cells; wherein the location is determined by comparing the stored information for the selected group of cells with a position of the additional cells; determining whether the addition of the additional cells to the selected group of cells is an expansion of the selected group of cells in response to determining that the additional cells are located immediately adjacent to the selected group of cells by: determining when the additional row of cells is above the selected group of cells; determining when the additional row of cells is below the selected group of cells when the additional cells added are the new row of cells and determining when the additional column of cells is to the right of the selected group of cells and determining when the additional column of cells is to the left of the selected group of cells when the additional cells added are the new column of cells; automatically applying the given formatting property to all of the additional cells and updating the stored information about the identity, position and number of rows and number of columns for the selected group of cells such that the selected group of cells is updated in response to determining that the addition is an expansion of the selected group of cells; and in response to receiving a modification to a spreadsheet formula in a cell that was automatically applied to the cell and other cells within the group of cells, displaying a selectable user interface element within the cell that remains displayed in the cell to indicate that the modified spreadsheet formula is also included in the other cells within the group of cells and removing the displayed selectable user interface element from the cell when the modified spreadsheet formula in the cell is changed back to the spreadsheet formula applied to the other cells.