Patent ID: 7756824

Claim:
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a process comprising: receiving an update to one of a first feature and operation of a spreadsheet file from a first spreadsheet client; receiving an update to one of a second feature and operation of the spreadsheet file from a second spreadsheet client; determining whether or not a module is capable of merging the updates such that both updates are combinable and applicable to the spreadsheet file; if the module is capable of merging the updates, then combining the updates and applying them to the spreadsheet file and computing reciprocal updates to send back to the first and second spreadsheet clients; if the module is not capable of merging the updates, then processing the updates according to a policy for non-transformable changes, wherein the policy includes: confirming that all spreadsheet clients have received all previous changes; and applying the non-transformable changes to the spreadsheet file.