Patent ID: 8407187
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of validating spreadsheet application workbook files, formatted according to a Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF), by sequentially accessing data records while allowing random data access within a sliding window, comprising: (a) initializing, by the computer, a plurality of variables representing a plurality of records stored in a BIFF file, the plurality of records comprising the sliding window, the sliding window being utilized by a spreadsheet application to allow random data access when validating the BIFF file, the sliding window comprising a plurality of records comprising a a first record, a current record, a previous record with respect to the current record, a record which is two records prior to the current record, a next record with respect to the current record, and a plurality of subsequent records with respect to the current record, wherein the plurality of records are stored in an array comprising: (b) reading, by the computer, the current record from the BIFF file, the current record from the BIFF file being read by: (c) copying, by the computer, the current record to the first record for validation; (d) copying, by the computer, the current record to the previous record and the next record to the current record for validation; (e) determining, by the computer, whether all of the plurality of records in the BIFF file have been validated; (f) determining, by the computer, whether another record is present in the BIFF file upon determining that all of the plurality of records in the BIFF file have not been validated; (g) reading, by the computer, the another record into the next record upon determining that the another record is present in the BIFF file; (h) validating, by the computer, a type, size, and position associated with the current record in the BIFF file; (i) copying, by the computer, the previous record to the record which is two records prior to the current record; and (j) repeating, by the computer, the operations (d)-(i) for each of the plurality of records in the BIFF file.