Abstract: An interactive tooltip provides access to help information and enhanced editing capabilities. The interactive tooltip may be useful for a user editing a function within a spreadsheet formula. The present invention may integrate HTML-like interactivity with a conventional tooltip to provide a new interface for working with the associated data. The interactivity of the tooltip may provide additional levels of help or documentation when requested and may provides additional editing navigation functionality within the associated data. Embodiments of the present invention may provide a tooltip in close proximity to the associated data, while the associated data is being edited. In the case of a spreadsheet, a tooltip may be provided when the user begins editing a function within a spreadsheet cell. The help facility may recognize that the user has begun entering a function.

Abstract: An error checker identifies spreadsheet errors by traversing a spreadsheet cell-by-cell and comparing each cell's contents to a list of error rules. When a cell's contents satisfy an error rules, then the cell is identified as containing a potential spreadsheet error. The error checker identifies potential spreadsheet errors and marks the cells containing the potential errors with an error indicator. A drop-down menu is provided that includes an element identifying the error rule that was invoked by the cell's contents and may include one or more recommended actions to resolve the identified error.

Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is a method and system for reporting the status of external references, or links, of a spreadsheet workbook. In an Edit Links dialog box, the user may view a list of links and their status. The user may select a Check Status button in the Edit Links dialog box to check the status of the links without updating the links because updating the links may require considerable time. A textual status message is displayed for each link in the Edit Links dialog box. The textual status message indicates to the user whether there is s possible problem with the link. As part of checking the status of a link, an analysis is made to determine whether any problems with the source file exist. For instance, it is determined whether the source file is open and whether it is valid. The results of this analysis determine what is displayed in the status column of the Edit Links dialog box.

Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is a method and system for reporting the status of external references, or links, of a spreadsheet workbook. In an Edit Links dialog box, the user may view a list of links and their status. The user may select a Check Status button in the Edit Links dialog box to check the status of the links without updating the links because updating the links may require considerable time. A textual status message is displayed for each link in the Edit Links dialog box. The textual status message indicates to the user whether there is s possible problem with the link. As part of checking the status of a link, an analysis is made to determine whether any problems with the source file exist. For instance, it is determined whether the source file is open and whether it is valid. The results of this analysis determine what is displayed in the status column of the Edit Links dialog box.

Abstract: An interactive tooltip provides access to help information and enhanced editing capabilities. The interactive tooltip is especially useful for a user editing a function within a spreadsheet formula. The present invention integrates HTML-like interactivity with a conventional tooltip to provide a new interface for working with the associated data. The interactivity of the tooltip provides additional levels of help or documentation when requested and provides additional editing navigation functionality within the associated data. The present invention provides a tooltip in close proximity to the associated data, while the associated data is being edited. In the case of a spreadsheet, a tooltip will be provided when the user begins editing a function within a spreadsheet cell.

Abstract: An interactive tooltip provides access to help information and enhanced editing capabilities. The interactive tooltip is especially useful for a user editing a function within a spreadsheet formula. The present invention integrates HTML-like interactivity with a conventional tooltip to provide a new interface for working with the associated data. The interactivity of the tooltip provides additional levels of help or documentation when requested and provides additional editing navigation functionality within the associated data. The present invention provides a tooltip in close proximity to the associated data, while the associated data is being edited. In the case of a spreadsheet, a tooltip will be provided when the user begins editing a function within a spreadsheet cell.

Abstract: An error checker identifies spreadsheet errors by traversing a spreadsheet cell-by-cell and comparing each cell's contents to a list of error rules. When a cell's contents satisfy an error rule, then the cell is identified as containing a potential spreadsheet error. The error checker operates in both background and foreground modes. In background mode, the error checker identifies potential spreadsheet errors and marks the cells containing the potential errors with an error indicator. A drop-down menu is provided that includes an element identifying the error rule that was invoked by the cell's contents and may include one or more recommended actions to resolve the identified error. The menu can also include selections for referencing a help facility for more information about the identified error, ignoring the error, accessing the cell to edit the cell's contents, and accessing a debugging utility for evaluating and modifying a spreadsheet formula.

Abstract: An interactive tooltip provides access to help information and enhanced editing capabilities. The interactive tooltip is especially useful for a user editing a function within a spreadsheet formula. The present invention integrates HTML-like interactivity with a conventional tooltip to provide a new interface for working with the associated data. The interactivity of the tooltip provides additional levels of help or documentation when requested and provides additional editing navigation functionality within the associated data. The present invention provides a tooltip in close proximity to the associated data, while the associated data is being edited. In the case of a spreadsheet, a tooltip will be provided when the user begins editing a function within a spreadsheet cell.