Abstract: The invention includes a method for testing a spreadsheet cell. Du-associations are collected for the spreadsheet cell. The cell's execution trace is tracked. After the user validates the cell, the du-associations that participated in the execution trace are marked as executed. Du-associations for other cells that are affected by the testing a spreadsheet cell are similarly marking as exercised. If the user changes a cell's contents, the collected du-associations for the cell are discarded and the steps of collecting test elements, tracking execution traces, and marking are repeated. Cells that depend on the changed cell also repeat these steps. After the user marks a cell as validated, a validation symbol is shown on the cell. If the cell's validation status is later brought into question, the validation symbol can change or be removed entirely. The invention also includes a method for providing a user with feedback of the testedness of the spreadsheet cells.

Abstract: The invention includes two methods for testing a spreadsheet region. Du-associations are collected for the spreadsheet region. In the Straightforward approach, du-associations are collected for each cell in the region. Each cell's execution trace is tracked. After the user validates a cell, the du-associations for the cell that participated in the execution trace are marked as executed. In the Region Representative approach, a region representative represents the region. Each cell's execution trace is tracked. After the user validates a cell, the du-associations for the region representative that participated in the execution trace for the validated cell are marked as executed. Du-associations for other cells that are affected by the testing of a spreadsheet region are similarly marked as covered. If the user changes a shared non-constant formula, the collected du-associations for the region are discarded and the steps of collecting test elements and tracking execution traces are repeated.