Patent ID: 7779431
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer apparatus that performs a method of generating and managing templates for a spreadsheet program over a computer network, the method comprising: using an administrator interface module operably connected to a server computer to design a plurality of templates for the spreadsheet program based at least in part on existing templates, functions and modeling workbooks of the spreadsheet program without any code being written; making a library of dynamic link library (DLL) worksheet functions corresponding to the plurality of templates available over the computer network; and using a user interface module executing on a client computer having a first explorer window in which a user views and selects the DLL worksheet functions and a second viewer window in which the user interacts with the spreadsheet program and selectively incorporates one or more of selected DLL worksheet functions; wherein the user interface module is implemented using a bootstrap layer that is generally fixed and a changeable layer that is generally updateable and wherein the method further comprises a step of automatically having the user interface module check for updates by using the bootstrap layer to check for and download over a network and install updates to the changeable layer; wherein the step of using the administrator interface module comprises: creating a spreadsheet workbook containing presentation and formatting data; using the administrator interface module to create control files which are integrated with the spreadsheet workbook into a report application as one of the plurality of templates, the control flies defining a source, scope, and structure of data to be returned from a networked database when the report application is executed and deployment information for the report application; and creating the report application by integrating the spreadsheet workbook with the control files.