Brian J Frank

US Patent:

6549878, Apr 15, 2003

Filed:

Dec 31, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/223864

Inventors:

Kent R. Lowry - Seattle WA
Mark S. Igra - Seattle WA
Brian Frank - Austin TX
Jeanell D. Sullivan - Carnation WA
Matthew J. Androski - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1721

US Classification:

702503, 707504

Abstract:

Editing cells within a spreadsheet to change the contents of a spreadsheet. To enter edit mode and alter the contents of a cell, the user first selects a cell by single clicking a mouse button while the mouse indicator is positioned above the cell. The user then initiates another single click when the mouse indicator is positioned above the selected cell. Once edit mode is active, the user may change the contents of the cell from within the web browser window as desired. Edit mode can be exited through one of three methods: an âexit and saveâ signal, an âexit and discardâ signal, or a click and drag maneuver. The exit and save signal prompts the invention to save all changes to the cell that the user has made. The exit and discard signal prompts the invention to discard any changes made to the cell by the user, revert to the pre-edit mode contents of the edit cell, and exit edit mode. Finally, a click and drag maneuver not only exits edit mode, but selects a range of cells.

US Patent:

7237186, Jun 26, 2007

Filed:

Oct 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/286275

Inventors:

Matthew J. Androski - Seattle WA, US
Mark S. Igra - Seattle WA, US
Kent R. Lowry - Seattle WA, US
Brian Frank - Austin TX, US
Jeanell D. Sullivan - Carnation WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 15/00

US Classification:

715503, 715769, 715856, 715862

Abstract:

A user can click on a spreadsheet cell to enter edit mode and alter the contents of the cell. Edit mode can be exited through a click and drag maneuver. The click and drag maneuver not only exits edit mode, but also selects a range of cells. The click and drag is performed by depressing a mouse button while the mouse indicator is positioned Over the edit cell, moving the mouse while holding the mouse button depressed, and releasing the mouse button when the end of the desired range of cells is reached. The range of selected cells starts with the edit cell and continues to the cell over which the mouse indicator was positioned when the mouse button was released.