Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for displaying temporal information in a spreadsheet application. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, spreadsheet data can be obtained at a computer system. The spreadsheet data can include data values, temporal information, and geographic information. The computer system can generate a visualization of the spreadsheet data based, at least partially, upon the data values, the temporal information, and the geographic location information. The computer system also can output the visualization.

Abstract: A visualization of computer-enabled information in association with a computer-enabled map is provided. One or more data items may be imported onto a computer-generated mapping surface. A data visualization application may obtain location information, for example, physical address or latitude/longitude coordinates, for each data item. A map showing a geographical area large enough to contain each data item may be automatically generated and displayed, and each data item may be located on the map and may be identified by an identifying icon or label. Selection of an icon or label for any of the data items may cause display of information about the data item. The map display and visualization of the data items on the map display may be dynamically modified as one or more other data items are imported onto the visualization surface or as one or more existing data items are removed from the visualization surface.

Abstract: Animation for the recalculation of formulas in a spreadsheet may be provided. A user interface may be displayed on a computer for updating formula output values. The computer may then receive an update of formula input values in a formula utilized for generating the formula output values. The computer may then animate a display the formula output values being replaced with recalculated formula output values based on the received update. Animation for sparklines and conditionally formatted content in a spreadsheet may also be provided. A user interface may be provided for displaying sparklines and conditionally formatted content in the spreadsheet. The computer may then receive an update of one or more values associated with the sparklines and the conditionally formatted content. The computer may then animate a change in the display of the sparklines and the conditionally formatted content based on the received update.

Abstract: Various types of data can be collected into a data set and related content and/or related concepts across the data in the data set and/or across search histories can be displayed as a visual representation. The related content/concepts can be presented as a function of incremental revealing of relationships. After reviewing the visual representation, a user can customize the data set and relationships by specifically excluding a related data segment. The visual representation can be applied across multiple searches or other obtained data. Through interaction with the visual representation, a user can drill down into common linkages of the data to more narrowly focus on a subset of the data and/or to refocus a search result and/or to provide annotations.

Abstract: A data visualization interactivity architecture may be provided. The architecture may allow the creation of a data visualization, such as a chart, and may expose an interactive feature on the visualization. The architecture may provide integration with multiple rendering platforms. When a user selects the exposed feature, the architecture may translate the selection into a common format and modify the data visualization according to layout rules independent of the rendering platform.

Abstract: Data visualization platform optimization may be provided. Applications may provide data values and request creation of a visualization from a data visualization platform (DVP). The DVP may composite a plurality of geometry records associated with a subset of the visualization's data values. The application may render the visualization by iterating through the geometry vectors and translating a subset of the vectors into drawing instructions for output to a display device.

Abstract: A platform extensibility framework may be provided. A visualization platform may register feature extensions and receive requests to create objects. The objects may be created according to drawing instructions provided by the visualization platform, an application requesting the object's creation, and/or at least one of the feature extensions.

Abstract: A data visualization interactivity architecture may be provided. The architecture may allow the creation of a data visualization, such as a chart, and may expose an interactive feature on the visualization. The architecture may provide integration with multiple rendering platforms. When a user selects the exposed feature, the architecture may translate the selection into a common format and modify the data visualization according to layout rules independent of the rendering platform.

Abstract: Modifications to a collection of data are maintained in chronological order and selectively rendered as a function of time. The selective rendering can include an animated version of the modification, which can include a timeline of events. The modifications can be associated with related data that includes information as to who made the modification, when the modification was made, and so forth. The related data can also include a motivation behind the modification. Further, confidence information can be related to the modification to add further detail to the modifications and events surrounding the collection of data.

Abstract: A system (and corresponding methodology) by which a user can interact directly with visual data is provided. The system employs associations and relationships between visual data objects to automatically update objects based upon a change in other objects. The innovation also provides specialized controls (e.g., dashboard tools/controls) that facilitate manipulation of visual data. As there can be numerous manners in which a user can interact with visualization data, the innovation enables a specialized set of controls to be identified and provided to a user thereby reducing overwhelming effects of a large number of controls.

Abstract: Various types of data can be collected into a data set and related content and/or related concepts across the data in the data set and/or across search histories can be displayed as a visual representation. The related content/concepts can be presented as a function of incremental revealing of relationships. After reviewing the visual representation, a user can customize the data set and relationships by specifically excluding a related data segment. The visual representation can be applied across multiple searches or other obtained data. Through interaction with the visual representation, a user can drill down into common linkages of the data to more narrowly focus on a subset of the data and/or to refocus a search result and/or to provide annotations.

Abstract: A Web Part connection runtime framework provides the architecture for Web Parts to connect and pass data between each other. The runtime framework provides a series of interfaces that a Web Part can implement to send or receive information from other connected Web Parts. The interfaces provided by the runtime framework allow for the connection of Web Parts on a server or client. A first Web Part is retrieved and connected to a second Web Part in response to a user selecting information to be passed from the first Web Part to the second Web Part. Subroutines of the connected Web Parts are fired signaling the Web Parts to pass data from one to another. Once the data is passed, the Web Part receiving data can be rendered while containing the passed data on the server or the client.

Abstract: Rendering electronic chart objects is provided. A set of chart elements having a common set of properties is identified. Formatting attributes of the chart elements and the data point locations for each chart element are also identified. Path information is generated for the chart elements that includes the formatting attributes and the data point locations. The path information is provided to a rendering engine that renders a chart element. Each chart element in the set is displayed on a display screen. Chart elements having a common set of properties are only rendered once. Alternatively, chart objects are rendered by generating and storing an image of chart objects having a common geometry and common properties and by copying the stored image to each data point location. Dynamic selection of rendering engines based on property and performance criteria may be utilized to enhance rendering performance.

Abstract: The Web Part authoring framework provides the a graphical user interface for connecting Web Parts, mechanisms for determining the compatibility between Web Parts, and the means to persist the connection between Web Parts. The framework builds the user interface for selecting the source and target parts based on a series of compatibility rules. A user can access a menu to specify the type of connection between a compatible source and target part. If the Web Parts implement different connection interface types, a transformer is generated to make the Web Parts compatible. The target and source Web Parts can reside on the same or different pages. Additionally, the target and source Web Parts can be created by different developers. After the end user defines the connection, the framework forms the connection between the Web Parts so the parts can share information.