Patent ID: 8275974

Claim:
A method for dynamic spreadsheet reporting, comprising: providing an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells that are arrayed in a defined number of columns and rows; providing a database in communication with the electronic spreadsheet; receiving an expansion formula in at least one of the plurality of cells that comprises at least one dimension member and instructions for expansion; in response to rendering the electronic spreadsheet, using the at least one dimension member from the expansion formula to query the database to retrieve data associated with the at least one dimension member from the database; using the instructions for expansion from the expansion formula to automatically vary at least one of the defined number of the columns and rows of the electronic spreadsheet to accommodate the retrieved data; and populating the varied columns and rows of the electronic spreadsheet with the retrieved data; wherein the expansion formula defines a beginning point for the automatic variation and an ending point for the automatic variation; wherein the plurality of cells of the spreadsheet include a summation cell that is not disposed between the beginning point for the automatic variation and the ending point for the automatic variation; and wherein the summation cell provides a sum that includes values from a plurality of cells disposed between the beginning point for the automatic variation and the ending point for the automatic variation.