Abstract: Programmer input in a programming language is received, the programmer input including i) specification data corresponding to an electronic form to be generated, and ii) a parameter that indicates a function to be applied to user input. The programmer input is evaluated to generate an electronic form object that includes one or more user-interface mechanisms for receiving the user input, wherein evaluating the programmer input includes evaluating the specification data and/or the parameter that indicates the function to generate code in the electronic form object which is capable of being processed by an application to render the electronic form. The electronic form object is generated such that the electronic form object is configured to apply, upon being processed by the application, the function to the user input received via the one or more user-interface mechanisms.

Abstract: A system receives one or more messages corresponding to a request to add data to an electronic storage object that is accessible on a network, the one or more messages corresponding to the electronic storage object to which data is to be stored, and including raw data corresponding to the data that is to be stored. Responsive to the one or more messages, the system: locates the electronic storage object in a database, identifies data conversion metadata in the electronic storage object that indicates how the raw data is to be converted to formatted data in a format that is recognized by a computational application, uses the data conversion metadata to convert the raw data to the formatted data in the format recognized by the computational application, and stores the formatted data to the electronic storage object in the database.

Abstract: A programmer input in a programming language is received, where the programmer input includes i) a built-in function of a computational application corresponding to retrieving data from electronic storage objects, and ii) a first parameter specifying the electronic storage object from which data is to be retrieved. The computational application evaluates the programmer input to generate one or more messages corresponding to requests for a server to retrieve data from the electronic storage object. The one or more messages are sent to the server to retrieve data from the electronic storage object. Data retrieved from the electronic storage object by the server is received, and the retrieved data is made available in a document for processing by the computational application, where the retrieved data is in a format recognized by the computational application.

Abstract: Programmer input in a first programming language is received, the programmer input including i) a built-in function of the first programming language, the built-in function corresponding to generating code for remotely invoking an electronic object deployed, or to be deployed, on a server via a communication network, and ii) a parameter that indicates the electronic object, wherein the code for invoking the electronic object comprises a) code in a second programming language different than the first programming language, or b) code in a markup language interpretable by a web browser. The programmer input is evaluated to: i) generate the code for remotely invoking the electronic object deployed, or to be deployed, on the server, and ii) if the electronic object is not yet deployed on the server, deploy the electronic object on the server. The code for remotely invoking the electronic object is generated for inclusion in a file corresponding to a web page or a program written in the second programming language.

Abstract: Programmer input in a programming language is received, the programmer input including i) first specification data specifying one or more parameters to be passed to an application programming interface (API), and ii) second specification data that specifies a function to be performed by the API. The programmer input is evaluated to generate an API object that is configured, when executed, to perform the specified function using the one or more parameters. Evaluating the programmer input includes evaluating the first specification data to generate the API object such that the API object is configured to receive the one or more parameters.

Abstract: User input in an imprecise syntax (e.g., expressed using natural language and/or informal terminology) is received, the user input including a query requesting information determinable by a formula and one or more indications of parameter values corresponding to the formula. The user input is analyzed to determine the formula with the one or more parameter values integrated into the formula. An answer to the query is calculated using the determined formula, and electronic display information is generated that, when displayed by a display device, renders an indication of the answer.

Abstract: A multimedia presentation system facilitates efficient creation of multimedia presentations. For example, in an embodiment, a multimedia presentation system provides tools for creating an authoring notebook via which a user can (i) create graphics to be used in a presentation, (ii) create a script to be read, or be referred to, by a speaker during the presentation, and (iii) provide prompts to the speaker for when and/or how to modify the graphics during the presentation. A controller may be provided to allow a user to modify the visual portion of the presentation during performance of the presentation.

Abstract: A method facilitates development of instructions in a precise syntax, such as built-in functions of a computational system such as a spreadsheet application, using natural language (NL) input. A user may enter NL input in a workspace. An NL processing system may process the NL input to generate instruction(s) in a precise syntax that corresponds to the NL input. The instruction(s) in the precise syntax then may be included in the workspace.

Abstract: A method facilitates development of instructions in a precise syntax, such as built-in functions of a computational system such as a spreadsheet application, using natural language (NL) input. A user may enter NL input in a workspace. An NL processing system may process the NL input to generate instruction(s) in a precise syntax that corresponds to the NL input. The instruction(s) in the precise syntax then may be included in the workspace.

Abstract: A compatibility of a computational analysis and a data set is automatically determined by comparing data set attribute data with attribute data of the computational analysis. Other computational analyses may also be evaluated for compatibility with the data set. Compatible analyses may be performed on the data set, and selected views of the results may be presented. Selection of the analyses to be performed, the views, and/or the contents and format of the views may be determined based result data attributes and computational analysis attribute data as well as other considerations, such as resources required and multiplicity. As computational analysis attributes are based on a set of rules or statements determined from heuristics of respective computational analyses, evaluation of the compatibility between various analyses and the data set is accordingly determined based on the heuristic-based rules or statements. Computational analyses may include visualizations and heavyweight computational analyses.

Abstract: Content data items in a first electronic file that correspond to entities in a database comprising categorized entities are identified. Modified content data items of a second electronic file are generated, the modified content data items indicating how the content data items are to be interpreted by a natural language query answering system. Information in the second electronic file indicating how the content data items are to be interpreted by the natural language query answering system are modified in response to user input. The second electronic file is used by the natural language query answering system to facilitate analysis of a natural language query regarding content in the first electronic file. Results of the analysis using the natural language query answering system are output.

Abstract: Positioning pads are displayed via a display device to facilitate movement of a position of interest (e.g., as indicated by a cursor) with respect to a structured object also displayed via the display device. The structured object is analyzed to determine predicted locations to which a user may subsequently wish to navigate the position of interest, and positioning pads are displayed at, or associated with, the predicted locations. When activation of a positioning pad is detected, (i) the position of interest is moved to the location of, or associated with, the positioning pad, and (ii) the positioning pad is no longer displayed via the display device.

Abstract: First specification data defining a grammar corresponding to natural language, and second specification data defining a mapping between the grammar and one or more outputs to be generated, are received. An electronic object is generated using the first specification data and the second specification data, the electronic object being configured to, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to map received natural language input to the one or more outputs. The one or more outputs may be used to control an electronically controllable machine.

Abstract: A natural language query is received, and an answer to the natural language query is determined. A message is formatted such that the message includes the answer, and metadata corresponding to the answer, the metadata including information to enable construction, using the metadata, of a sentence that rephrases the query and recites the answer.

Abstract: A data function in received. The data function is indicative of a request for data from a database, and is included in a library of built-in functions of a computational software application. In response to receiving the data function, a request for database data is transmitted to a database system via a network. In response to the request for data, the database data is received from the database system via the network. In response to receiving the database data via the network, an expression is created using at least a portion of the received database data. The expression is capable of being operated on by the computational software application.

Abstract: A method facilitates development of instructions in a precise syntax, such as built-in functions of a computational system such as a spreadsheet application, using natural language (NL) input. A user may enter NL input in a workspace. An NL processing system may process the NL input to generate instruction(s) in a precise syntax that corresponds to the NL input. The instruction(s) in the precise syntax then may be included in the workspace.

Abstract: A result is generated, using a data processing or computational system, in response to a user-provided or user-indicated input expression. The result is displayed, or caused to be displayed, on a display device. The result is analyzed, and, based on the analysis of the result, one or more further data processing or computational actions that the user will perform on the result are predicted. A user interface mechanism is generated to facilitate performing the predicted one or more further data processing or computational actions or to facilitate viewing one or more further results generated in response to one or more of the predicted further data processing or computational actions. The user interface mechanism is displayed or caused to be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A selection-type user input corresponding to a selection position on a structured object displayed on a display device is received via a user interface device. The structured object includes a plurality of levels in a hierarchy or corresponding to a multi-dimensional coordinate space, and the plurality of levels includes a first level and a second level. When it is determined that the selection position is within the first level, first display data is generated that, when displayed by the display device, shows contents of the structured object within the first level as selected and does not show contents of the structured object within the second level as selected. When it is determined that the selection position is within the second level, second display data is generated that, when displayed by the display device, shows contents of the structured object within both the first level and the second level as selected.

Abstract: A framing technique included in a set of framing techniques is applied to at least a portion of a target data set. When a result of the application of the framing technique meets a first condition, a typing technique included in a set of typing techniques is applied to the target data set. When a result of the application of the typing technique meets a second condition, a tokenization technique included in a set of tokenization techniques is applied to the target data set. When a result of the application of the tokenization technique meets a third condition, a parsing technique for the target data set is determined to include the framing technique, the typing technique and the tokenization technique. An indication of the parsing technique is generated.

Abstract: Programmer input in a first programming language is received, the programmer input including i) a built-in function of the first programming language, the built-in function corresponding to generating code for remotely invoking an electronic object deployed, or to be deployed, on a server via a communication network, and ii) a parameter that indicates the electronic object, wherein the code for invoking the electronic object comprises a) code in a second programming language different than the first programming language, or b) code in a markup language interpretable by a web browser. The programmer input is evaluated to: i) generate the code for remotely invoking the electronic object deployed, or to be deployed, on the server, and ii) if the electronic object is not yet deployed on the server, deploy the electronic object on the server. The code for remotely invoking the electronic object is generated for inclusion in a file corresponding to a web page or a program written in the second programming language.