Method and apparatus for handling scenarios in spreadsheet documents

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention include an improved spreadsheet program which is user-friendly, and allows the user to view all previous spreadsheet documents at one time in a tree scenario. Specifically, the user enters data into a spreadsheet of the spreadsheet program, saves each data set entered into the spreadsheet as a scenario using a name or other identifier, and then the user can view all the scenarios created at one time on screen as a tree structure. The user can then compare the different scenarios the user has created, and move between the different scenarios easily.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method in a data-processing system for processing a document comprising cells arranged in rows and columns, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a data set defining a content of a plurality of cells, wherein a content of one of said plurality of cells is related to a content of at least one of another of a plurality of cells;    creating an alternative data set by receiving an input defining an alternative content of said at least one of said plurality of cells of said data set;    calculating a content of said plurality of cells referencing said at least one of said plurality of cells having said alternative content to result in said alternative data set having changed data in said plurality of cells;    automatically storing said changed data of said alternative data set;    assigning an identifier to said alternative data set to enable access to said alternative data set;    identifying and storing an order of creation of each said alternative data set; and    arranging each said stored alternative data set in a tree structure.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the document is a spreadsheet document.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said data set is inputted by a user.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stored alternative data set is transmitted from a computer memory device.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of moving between each said different stored alternative data set.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said identifier allows access to an arbitrary one of each said stored alternative data set.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 displaying said tree structure on a display medium; and    enabling the user to select said alternative data set represented in said tree structure using a graphical user interface.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said identifier of said alternative data set comprises a name.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said name is automatically created when said alternative data set is stored.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said name is selectable by the user.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 providing the user a navigation tool to move between each said different alternative data set.    
     
     
         12 . A computer readable medium containing instructions that cause a data processing system to perform a method of processing a document comprising cells arranged in rows and columns, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first data set in at least one of a plurality of cells;    creating an alternative data set by receiving input into said plurality of cells and automatically performing a predetermined calculation based on said first data set;    automatically storing said alternative data set;    assigning an identifier to said alternative data set; and    storing said data set and said alternative data set in a tree structure.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first data set in said at least one of said plurality of cells is derived based on a relationship to a content in at least another of said plurality of cells.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said identifier allows access to said alternative data set.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each said alternative data set is stored in an order of creation.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the document is a spreadsheet document.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said data set is inputted by a user.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each said stored alternative data set is transmitted from a computer memory device.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of moving between each said different stored alternative data set.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said identifier allows access to an arbitrary one of each said stored alternative data set.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 displaying said tree structure on a display medium; and    enabling the user to select each said alternative data set represented in said tree structure using a graphical user interface.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said identifier of each said alternative data set comprises a name.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said name is automatically created when each said alternative data set is stored.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said name is selectable by the user.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 providing the user a navigation tool to move between each said different alternative data set.    
     
     
         26 . A data processing system for processing a document comprising cells arranged in rows and columns, said system comprising: 
 a memory containing a program that receives a data set defining a content of a plurality of cells, wherein a content of one of the plurality of cells is related to a content of at least one of a plurality of other cells; that creates an alternative data set by receiving an input defining an alternative content of at least one of the plurality of cells of the data set; that calculates a content of the plurality of cells referencing at least one of the plurality of cells having alternative content to result in the alternative data set having changed data in the plurality of cells; that automatically saves the changed data of the alternative data set; that assigns an identifier to the alternative data set to enable access to the alternative data set; that identifies and stores an order of creation of each alternative data set; and that arranges each stored alternative data set in a tree structure; and    a processor which runs the program.    
     
     
         27 . A computer readable medium containing instructions that cause a data processing system to perform a method of processing a document comprising cells arranged in rows and columns, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a data set defining a content of a plurality of cells, wherein a content of one of said plurality of cells is related to a content of at least one of another of a plurality of cells;    creating an alternative data set by receiving an input defining an alternative content of said at least one of said plurality of cells of said data set;    calculating a content of said plurality of cells referencing said at least one of said plurality of cells having said alternative content to result in said alternative data set having changed data in said plurality of cells;    automatically storing said changed data of said alternative data set;    assigning an identifier to said alternative data set to enable access to said alternative data set;    recognizing and storing an order of creation of each said alternative data set; and    arranging each said stored alternative data set in a tree structure.    
     
     
         28 . An apparatus for processing a document comprising cells arranged in rows and columns, said apparatus comprising: 
 means for receiving a data set defining a content of a plurality of cells, wherein a content of one of said plurality of cells is related to a content of at least one of another of a plurality of cells;    means for creating an alternative data set by receiving an input defining an alternative content of said at least one of said plurality of cells of said data set;    means for calculating a content of said plurality of cells referencing said at least one of said plurality of cells having said alternative content to result in said alternative data set having changed data in said plurality of cells;    means for automatically storing said changed data of said alternative data set;    means for assigning an identifier to said alternative data set to enable access to said alternative data set;    means for recognizing and storing an order of creation of each said alternative data set; and    means for arranging each said stored alternative data set in a tree structure.    
     
     
         29 . A computer-readable memory device encoded with a tree data structure having entries which are accessed by a program that processes a document comprising cells arranged in rows and columns, wherein the program is encoded in the memory device and is run by a processor, each entry comprising: 
 an identifier for a data set for the cells of the document to provide access to the data set.    
     
     
         30 . A method in a data processing system for processing a document having cells, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first data set for the cells;    receiving a second data set for the cells; and    displaying both the first data set and the second data set at substantially the same time.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the data set is displayed in a tree structure.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said first data set and said second data set each has values, and wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving an edit to one of said values.