Abstract: Block properties and improved calculated columns properties are provided in a spreadsheet application. Once block properties are set for a group of spreadsheet cells or a spreadsheet list, the properties may be applied to the entire group of selected cells or list as opposed to requiring application of properties to individual cells. If rows or columns are added to the group of selected cells or list, properties applied to the group of cells or list are automatically applied to the new rows or columns. Block properties also provide for intelligent-behaving list borders where list borders are not corrupted by the movement or changing of columns or rows sharing edges with a list border. Calculated columns are a type of block property that extends the functionality of formulas throughout an entire column of an associated group of cells or list.

Abstract: A method and system associate conditional formats with selected data points or groups of data points within a summary table. In one embodiment, related groups of data are determined based upon currently highlighted cells in a summary table. A user then selects from the groups and identifies conditional formats to be associated with the specified data points. The conditional formats are associated with currently displayed as well as non-displayed data within the summary table. The associated conditions are saved relative to the data points rather than the original cell positions so that the conditions remain associated with the data points following a reorganization of the summary table.

Abstract: Third party data embedding may be provided. Data associated with a third party provider may be saved in a native application save file. If a save file opened by the application is determined to comprise third party data, the application may determine whether an appropriate data provider is available. The application may connect to the data provider and provide on-demand, asynchronous access to the third party data upon request from a user.

Abstract: A method and system associate conditional formats with selected data points or groups of data points within a summary table. In one embodiment, related groups of data are determined based upon currently highlighted cells in a summary table. A user then selects from the groups and identifies conditional formats to be associated with the specified data points. The conditional formats are associated with currently displayed as well as non-displayed data within the summary table. The associated conditions are saved relative to the data points rather than the original cell positions so that the conditions remain associated with the data points following a reorganization of the summary table.

Abstract: A method and system associate conditional formats with selected data points or groups of data points within a summary table. In one embodiment, related groups of data are determined based upon currently highlighted cells in a summary table. A user then selects from the groups and identifies conditional formats to be associated with the specified data points. The conditional formats are associated with currently displayed well as non-displayed data within the summary table. The associated conditions are saved relative to the data points rather than the original cell positions so that the conditions remain associated with the data points following a reorganization of the summary table.

Abstract: A method and system associate conditional formats with selected data points or groups of data points within a summary table. In one embodiment, related groups of data are determined based upon currently highlighted cells in a summary table. A user then selects from the groups and identifies conditional formats to be associated with the specified data points. The conditional formats are associated with currently displayed well as non-displayed data within the summary table. The associated conditions are saved relative to the data points rather than the original cell positions so that the conditions remain associated with the data points following a reorganization of the summary table.

Abstract: A method and system associate conditional formats with selected data points or groups of data points within a summary table. In one embodiment, related groups of data are determined based upon currently highlighted cells in a summary table. A user then selects from the groups and identifies conditional formats to be associated with the specified data points. The conditional formats are associated with currently displayed as well as non-displayed data within the summary table. The associated conditions are saved relative to the data points rather than the original cell positions so that the conditions remain associated with the data points following a reorganization of the summary table.

Abstract: Block properties and improved calculated columns properties are provided in a spreadsheet application. Once block properties are set for a group of spreadsheet cells or a spreadsheet list, the properties may be applied to the entire group of selected cells or list as opposed to requiring application of properties to individual cells. If rows or columns are added to the group of selected cells or list, properties applied to the group of cells or list are automatically applied to the new rows or columns. Block properties also provide for intelligent-behaving list borders where list borders are not corrupted by the movement or changing of columns or rows sharing edges with a list border. Calculated columns are a type of block property that extends the functionality of formulas throughout an entire column of an associated group of cells or list.

Abstract: Block properties and improved calculated columns properties are provided in a spreadsheet application. Once block properties are set for a group of spreadsheet cells or a spreadsheet list, the properties may be applied to the entire group of selected cells or list as opposed to requiring application of properties to individual cells. If rows or columns are added to the group of selected cells or list, properties applied to the group of cells or list are automatically applied to the new rows or columns. Block properties also provide for intelligent-behaving list borders where list borders are not corrupted by the movement or changing of columns or rows sharing edges with a list border. Calculated columns are a type of block property that extends the functionality of formulas throughout an entire column of an associated group of cells or list.

Abstract: Third party data embedding may be provided. Data associated with a third party provider may be saved in a native application save file. If a save file opened by the application is determined to comprise third party data, the application may determine whether an appropriate data provider is available. The application may connect to the data provider and provide on-demand, asynchronous access to the third party data upon request from a user.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for utilizing spreadsheet references with grouped aggregate views. A grouped aggregate view feature enables a user to create a grouped aggregate view of data. A calculation feature enables the user to calculations for the grouped aggregate view of data that are based upon relative or absolute references to data in the grouped aggregate view. Input is received from a user to write a calculation within a first cell in a grouped aggregate view. Input is received from the user to select a second cell to reference when writing the calculation. The user is presented with available references that are relevant to data contained in the second cell. Input is received from the user to select one of the available references that are relevant for the second cell. The selected one of the available references is placed into the first cell.

Abstract: Third party data embedding may be provided. Data associated with a third party provider may be saved in a native application save file. If a save file opened by the application is determined to comprise third party data, the application may determine whether an appropriate data provider is available. The application may connect to the data provider and provide on-demand, asynchronous access to the third party data upon request from a user.

Abstract: A method and system associate conditional formats with selected data points or groups of data points within a summary table. In one embodiment, related groups of data are determined based upon currently highlighted cells in a summary table. A user then selects from the groups and identifies conditional formats to be associated with the specified data points. The conditional formats are associated with currently displayed as well as non-displayed data within the summary table. The associated conditions are saved relative to the data points rather than the original cell positions so that the conditions remain associated with the data points following a reorganization of the summary table.

Abstract: A method and system associate conditional formats with selected data points or groups of data points within a summary table. In one embodiment, related groups of data are determined based upon currently highlighted cells in a summary table. A user then selects from the groups and identifies conditional formats to be associated with the specified data points. The conditional formats are associated with currently displayed as well as non-displayed data within the summary table. The associated conditions are saved relative to the data points rather than the original cell positions so that the conditions remain associated with the data points following a reorganization of the summary table.

Abstract: The present invention provides several database formulas that can manipulate large sets of data. Each database formula is customizable and repeatable without user intervention. Thus, users may enter numerous options that can cover the user's desire for data output in certain forms or formats, select a set of input data, and consistently receive a set of output data. In some embodiments, the user may refer to the set of data semantically instead of specifying a range of cells to use in the database formula. Referring to the data semantically allows the database formulas to adjust to changes in the range of cells new data may occupy.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for utilizing spreadsheet references with grouped aggregate views. A grouped aggregate view feature enables a user to create a grouped aggregate view of data. A calculation feature enables the user to calculations for the grouped aggregate view of data that are based upon relative or absolute references to data in the grouped aggregate view. Input is received from a user to write a calculation within a first cell in a grouped aggregate view. Input is received from the user to select a second cell to reference when writing the calculation. The user is presented with available references that are relevant to data contained in the second cell. Input is received from the user to select one of the available references that are relevant for the second cell. The selected one of the available references is placed into the first cell.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for creating a data summary table includes a pane including a plurality of fields, and a data summary table. Upon selection of a field to include in the data summary table, the user interface is programmed to analyze the field and automatically place the field in the data summary table.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium for upgrading an application program, and making an installer program aware that an application has been upgraded is disclosed. The method recognizes that an upgrade to the application has been initiated. The upgrade includes an identifier for the application to be upgraded, as well as information required for the installer to perform the upgrade. The installer program accesses the upgrade information, which includes instructions necessary for installing the upgrade. The installer program also accesses information related to the installed state of the application and related applications. The installer program determines whether or not the upgrade should be performed. If the upgrade should be performed, the installer program performs the upgrade and stores the fact that the application has been upgraded. If the application should not be upgraded, the installer program stores information reflecting the fact that the upgrade is available but not installed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new type of structured name within a spreadsheet program that allows users to refer to tables, columns of data within tables, headers of tables, totals from tables, PivotTables®, and portions of PivotTable® data by the data's headers. Embodiments of the present invention comprise a method for referring to a set of data that comprises receiving one or more semantic designations, wherein the one or more semantic designations name a set of context information that describes one or more items of data in a data structure, automatically creating a structural reference, and associating the context information with the structural reference.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium for upgrading an application program, and making an installer program aware that an application has been upgraded is disclosed. The method recognizes that an upgrade to the application has been initiated. The upgrade includes an identifier for the application to be upgraded, as well as information required for the installer to perform the upgrade. The installer program accesses the upgrade information, which includes instructions necessary for installing the upgrade. The installer program also accesses information related to the installed state of the application and related applications. The installer program determines whether or not the upgrade should be performed. If the upgrade should be performed, the installer program performs the upgrade and stores the fact that the application has been upgraded. If the application should not be upgraded, the installer program stores information reflecting the fact that the upgrade is available but not installed.