Patent ID: 7155665

Claim:
A method of creating a list in an electronic spreadsheet program, the list comprising a plurality of records, wherein each record comprises a plurality of fields, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a user command to create the list, wherein said user command enables a user to create the list by guiding a user through performance of a plurality of sequences, each sequence comprising a plurality of steps that result in the creation of the list; (b) performing a first sequence comprising the steps of: (i) determining whether pre-existing data is to be imported into the list; (ii) if pre-existing data is to be imported into the list, determining where the pre-existing data is located; and (iii) if no pre-existing data is to be imported into the list, creating a worksheet in the electronic spreadsheet program; (c) performing a second sequence, subsequent to the first sequence, comprising the step of defining the plurality of fields in the list, each field comprising a plurality of characteristics; and (d) performing a third sequence subsequent to the second sequence, comprising the steps of: (i) enabling a user to create the list in a manner that determines whether the list comprises one of: (1) a list object, which occurs if the user inserts the list into an electronic spreadsheet program worksheet, such that different data that are not part of the list object can be included within a different portion of said worksheet; and (2) a list sheet, which occurs if the user inserts the list into the electronic spreadsheet program worksheet, such that different data that are not part of the list cannot be included within said worksheet; and (ii) creating a continuing association between each field within each record such that each field remains associated with other fields within each record when the record is manipulated.