JPH0430249A - Cell structure for table calculation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To store plural pieces of data within one cell by arranging unit data composed of a character, numeral or an expression and a pointer linking unit data with other unit data in the same cell in the cell of a spread sheet. CONSTITUTION:Unit data 21 is composed of a content identifier 22, a display attribute 23, a content 24 and the pointer 25. The content identifier 22 shows whether data is the character, the number or the expression. The display attribute 23 shows the mode of display such as to display the character and the like in the center of the cell or to display them by biasing them to right. The content 24 is the content of the character and the like and the pointer 25 shows a connection destination or the assembly of data. Since mutually related data is stored in one cell, a table is generated so that it is easy to understand as to data that are natural to be expressed in a pair such as coordinate data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to the cell structure of a spreadsheet used when performing spreadsheet calculations using a computer.

``Prior Art'' FIG. 9 shows the structure of a typical spreadsheet. The spreadsheet has numbers “1” and “2”
3”... line number display area 11,
It has column number display areas 12 indicated by alphabetic letters "A", "B", "C", etc., and eight frames partitioned by these are called cells 13.

FIG. 10 shows a conventional spreadsheet calculation. In this example, the cell in column B, row 1 displays the value obtained by dividing the value in column A, row 1 by the value in column A, row 2. The number ``3'' is in the cell of column A and row 1.
If the number "4" is entered in the cell in column A, row 2, the value "0.75" will be calculated and displayed in the cell in column B, row 1. At this time, The following formula is stored in the cell in column B and row 1.

(Value in column A, row 1) - (value in column A, row 2) "Problem to be solved by the invention" In the example shown in Figure 10, it is stored in each cell in column A, row 1 and column A, row 2. The calculated values are a pair of data used to calculate one equation. In other words, the number ``4°'' in column A, row 2 is
If you carelessly move the cell to another cell as shown in Figure 1, the formula stored in the cell in column B, row 1 will not be able to be executed, and an error will be displayed in this cell. Put it away.

Each cell in a spreadsheet was supposed to store only one unit of data, each consisting of a letter, number, or formula. Therefore, the two independent
It was not possible to store one piece of data. Similarly, coordinate data including coordinate values of the X-axis and Y-axis cannot be stored in one cell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a spreadsheet cell structure that can store a plurality of pieces of data in one cell.

"Means for Solving the Problem" In the present invention, unit data consisting of characters, numbers, or formulas and a pointer that links this unit data with other unit data within the same cell are placed in a cell, and when necessary, The above objective is achieved by linking a plurality of unit data and storing them in the same cell.

"Example" The present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples below.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of unit data stored in each cell in this embodiment. The unit data 21 is
It is composed of a content identifier 22, a display attribute 23, a content 24, and a pointer 25. Here content identifier 22
indicates whether the data is characters, numbers, or expressions. The display attribute 23 indicates a display mode such as displaying characters in the center of a cell or displaying them biased to the right. The content 24 is the content such as characters, and the pointer 25 indicates the end of the connected light or data.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of data stored in a conventional cell for reference. The conventional data 26 was composed of a content identifier 22, a display attribute 23, and a content 24.

3rd I! I represents an example of a spreadsheet using the cell structure of this embodiment. The number "100" is displayed in the center of the cell in column A and row 1.

Further, in the second row of column A, the characters "a p p le" are displayed in right alignment. Each of these cells will store one single piece of data.

Figure 4 shows the structure of the cell in column A and row 1, and Figure 5 shows the structure of the cell in column A and row 2.
This shows the structure of each cell in a row. Since each of these cells stores one piece of single data 21, the pointer 25 does not point to other single data, but points to termination (ground).

On the other hand, in column B and row 1 in Figure 3, there are two sets of numbers "20".
, 33" are displayed. It was mentioned earlier that such a display form has not been realized in the past. In this embodiment, two unit data are linked to form one connected data. Enables display.

FIG. 6 shows the link status of these two unit data. In the unit data 21A, the display attribute 23 is "left alignment", and the number "20" is displayed aligned to the left of the cell.

Since the pointer 25 of the unit data 21A points to the unit data 21B, the number "33'" is the number "2" in the same cell.
0” will be displayed next to it.

FIG. 7 shows the unit data stored in the cells in column B and row 3 of the spreadsheet shown in FIG. This unit data 21C represents a formula, and content 2
4, an expression is set which means that the second value in column B, row 1 is added to the value in column A, row 1. Therefore, the value “133” as a result of calculation of this formula is left aligned and B
It will be displayed in the cell of column 3.

FIG. 8 shows an example corresponding to FIG. 10 as another spreadsheet. In this example, 2
The numbers "3" and "4" are displayed based on two different data. The cell in column B, row 1 stores a formula for dividing the first value in column A, row 1 by the second value in column A, row 1. Therefore, the cell in column B and row 1 displays the numerical value "0.75" as the result of this calculation.

In the spreadsheet shown in Figure 8, two related data are stored together in the first cell, and the 10th cell
As shown in the figure, they are not distributed between the first and second rows. Therefore, even if the contents of the second line are moved after the third line, there will be no change in logic and no error will occur in the calculation results.

In the example described above, multiple values (unit data) are stored in one cell, but by storing multiple values and formulas at the same time, advanced calculations can be easily performed. It can promote its use in the fields of science and science.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the present invention, unit data consisting of characters, numbers, or formulas and a pointer that links this unit data with other unit data within the same cell are provided in a cell of a spreadsheet. Because of this arrangement, data that is related to each other can be stored in a cell as a capsule, and even when the table is modified, the connection between these data can be maintained, preventing the logical meaning from being lost. There is no fear. Furthermore, since different data can be stored in one cell, tables can be created in an easy-to-understand manner for data that is naturally expressed in pairs, such as coordinate data.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a structural explanatory diagram showing the structure of unit data in an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a structural explanatory diagram showing a conventional data structure, and Fig. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the spreadsheet of this embodiment. 4 is a structural explanatory diagram showing an example of the structure of unit data regarding numbers, FIG. 5 is a structural explanatory diagram showing an example of the structure of unit data regarding characters, and FIG. 6 is a structural explanatory diagram showing an example of the structure of unit data regarding characters. 7 is a structure explanatory diagram showing an example of the structure of unit data related to formulas, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the main parts of another spreadsheet in this embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a general spreadsheet. A structural explanatory diagram showing the structure of a sheet, Fig. 10 is a plan view showing an example of a spreadsheet with a conventional cell structure, and Fig. 11 is a diagram showing how to move the contents of one cell to the position of another cell in this conventional spreadsheet. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the result when moving. 13... Cell, 21... Unit data, 2... Content identifier, 3... Display attribute, 4... Content, 5... pointer. Applicant Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Umeo Yamauchi (1 person) Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5! Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 9 Figure 8 Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] A feature is that unit data consisting of letters, numbers, or formulas and a pointer that links this unit data with other unit data within the same cell are arranged in each cell as a grid of a spreadsheet that performs spreadsheet processing. Spreadsheet cell structure.