Patent NZ-594997-A (NZ)
Title: Method of designating, setting and discovering a list of one or more parameters associated with a model represented by a spread sheet document
Inventor: MEGIDDO ERAN
IPC: G06F40/143
Filed: 2006-09-06
Abstract: 594997 A computer-implemented method for designating, via a Web-based spreadsheet service, a list of one or more parameters associated with a model represented by a spreadsheet document is disclosed. A user interface component separate from the spreadsheet is provided. A definition is received for a first subset of cells of the spreadsheet document via the user interface component. The spreadsheet document comprises a plurality of subsets of cells and the definition designates each cell in the first subset of cells as a parameter to the model represented by the spreadsheet document. Each cell in the first subset of cells is designated to receive input from a user to apply to a calculation of the model, and each cell in a second subset of cells of the spreadsheet document not designated as a parameter to the model is not designated to receive input from the user. The defined parameters are loaded into the list of one or more parameters associated with the model. The list of one or more parameters includes a name for each parameter and any comments associated with each parameter name. Instructions specifying an order in which the list of parameters is to be displayed is received at a client via the user interface component. A request to transmit the spreadsheet document for rendering is received at a client; and the spreadsheet document and the list of the parameters are provided to the client. Also disclosed is a computer-implemented method for discovering, via a Web-based spreadsheet service, a list of parameters associated with a model represented by a spreadsheet document. The method comprises requesting a Web-based spreadsheet server to transmit the spreadsheet document for rendering at a client to display the spreadsheet document on a display device; and retrieving the list of one or more parameters associated with the model represented by the spreadsheet document. Each parameter in the list of one or more parameters corresponds to a cell in the first subset of cells. The method further comprises presenting a user interface (UI) component for editing values in cells in the first subset of cells corresponding to the one or more of the parameters in the parameter list. Each cell in the first subset of cells and each cell in the second subset of cells are both displayed in the UI component and each cell in the first subset is automatically displayed distinctly from each cell in the second subset of cells to indicate that each cell in the first subset of cells is designated to receive input from the user to apply to the calculation of the model. Also disclosed is a computer-implemented method for editing, via a Web-based spreadsheet service, a parameter of a list of one or more parameters associated with a model represented by a spreadsheet document. The method, comprises requesting a Web-based spreadsheet server to transmit the spreadsheet document for rendering at a client to display the spreadsheet document on a display device; retrieving the list of one or more parameters associated with the model represented by the spreadsheet document and via a user interface component, receiving edits to at least one parameter of the list of one or more parameters associated with the model represented by the spreadsheet document. .