Spreadsheet with Dynamic Cell Dimensions Generated by a Spreadsheet Template Based on Remote Application Values

Abstract

A method for generating a spreadsheet is disclosed. The method comprises locking a grid area comprising selected cells of the spreadsheet to prevent data entry into said cells by a user; performing an authentication operation to authenticate the user with a remote application; if the authentication operation authenticates the user then retrieving row and column header information from the remote application in response to said communication displaying said row and column header information from the remote application; and selectively unlocking cells of the grid area with row and column header information.

1 . A method for creating a spreadsheet, comprising:
 generating at least one header; and   for each header:   obtaining a dimension range for cells associated with said header, and a behavior pattern for said cells; and   creating new cells in the spreadsheet within the dimension range and in accordance with the behavior patent based on records received from a remote application.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the behavior pattern specifies a direction in which cells associated with the header are to be created. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said direction is vertical. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said direction is horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the at least one header comprises obtaining data corresponding to the header from a remote application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing an authentication operation to authenticate a user of the spreadsheet with the remote application prior to obtaining said data from said remote application. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising locking selected cells associated with the at least one header of the spreadsheet to prevent data entry into said cells by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising unlocking the locked cells for data entry, once the user has been authenticated with the remote application. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   and memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions which when executed by the system causes the system to perform a method, comprising:   generating at least one header; and   for each header:   obtaining a dimension range for cells associated with said header, and a behavior pattern for said cells; and   creating new cells in the spreadsheet within the dimension range and in accordance with the behavior patent based on records received from a remote application.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the behavior pattern specifies a direction in which cells associated with the header are to be created. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said direction is vertical. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said direction is horizontal. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein generating the at least one header comprises obtaining data corresponding to the header from a remote application. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises performing an authentication operation to authenticate a user of the spreadsheet with the remote application prior to obtaining said data from said remote application. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises locking selected cells associated with the at least one header of the spreadsheet to prevent data entry into said cells by a user. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the method comprises unlocking the locked cells for data entry, once the user has been authenticated with the remote application.