Flexible Multiple Spreadsheet Data Consolidation System

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed that include consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets. Consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets includes receiving a selection of a plurality of spreadsheets via a graphical control panel that includes a spreadsheet selection area. The spreadsheet selection area includes a workbook selection area to select workbooks that are not open for inclusion in the selection of the plurality of spreadsheets. Consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets further includes receiving a selection of portions of data from the plurality of spreadsheets and executing automated consolidation of the portions of data by retrieving the portions of data and generating a final report spreadsheet. Consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets further includes appending the portions of data to the final report spreadsheet.

1 . A method of consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets, the method comprising:
 receiving a selection of a plurality of spreadsheets via a graphical control panel, the graphical control panel comprising a spreadsheet selection area that includes a workbook selection area to select workbooks that are not open for inclusion in the selection of the plurality of spreadsheets;   receiving a selection of portions of data from the plurality of spreadsheets; and   executing automated consolidation of the portions of data, wherein the automated consolidation comprises:   retrieving the portions of data;   generating a final report spreadsheet; and   appending the portions of data to the final report spreadsheet.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portions of data include at least one workbook. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portions of data include at least one worksheet. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the selection of the portions of data comprises receiving, via the graphical control panel, a selection of at least one of rows, columns, cells, tables, filenames, workbook names, worksheet names, and spreadsheet names of the plurality of spreadsheets. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portions of data comprise results from searching for specified text within at least one of the plurality of spreadsheets. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automated consolidation further comprises appending additional data to the final report spreadsheet, wherein the additional data is not within the plurality of spreadsheets. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the additional data includes workbook names that designate original locations of the portions of data. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the additional data includes spreadsheet names to designate where the portions of data were originally located. 
   
   
       9 . A computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer executable
 instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:   receive a selection of a plurality of spreadsheets via a graphical control panel, the graphical control panel comprising a spreadsheet selection area that includes a workbook selection area to select workbooks that are not open for inclusion in the selection of the plurality of spreadsheets;   receive a selection of portions of data from the plurality of spreadsheets;   generate a final report spreadsheet; and   append the portions of data to the final report spreadsheet.   
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the portions of data include portions of data of the plurality of spreadsheets identified via a preprogrammed search, wherein the preprogrammed search specifies a user-selected subset of cells, rows, and columns of one or more of the plurality of spreadsheets. 
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising computer executable instructions to enable a user to define the preprogrammed search. 
   
   
       12 . A multiple spreadsheet data consolidation system comprising:
 a computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions, the computer-readable storage medium including a controller, wherein the controller is executable by a computer to:   send a graphical control panel display to a display device, the graphical control panel comprising a spreadsheet selection area to receive a selection of a plurality of spreadsheets that include specified portions of data, wherein the spreadsheet selection area includes a workbook selection area to select workbooks that are not open for inclusion in the selection of the plurality of spreadsheets;   generate a final report spreadsheet; and   append the desired portions of data to the final report spreadsheet.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller further includes a custom search module that is executable to implement a preprogrammed search to identify the specified portions of data. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the preprogrammed search specifies a user-selected subset of cells, rows, and columns of one or more of the plurality of spreadsheets. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further adapted to append spreadsheet names identifying sources of the specified portions of data to the final report spreadsheet. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the spreadsheet selection area comprises a worksheet subset selector. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the graphical control panel further comprises a status indicator. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further executable to: track generation of the final report spreadsheet;
 report the tracking during generation of the final report spreadsheet; and   present consolidation events as the consolidation events are being performed.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the spreadsheet selection area comprises a window to receive the selection of the plurality of spreadsheets. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is part of a consolidation tool that is executable within one of a word processing application, a data entry application, a spreadsheet application, a graphics application, a presentation application, and a reporting application.