Embedded spreadsheet data implementation and synchronization

Abstract

A collaborative content management system allows for the mutual-synchronization of content within a spreadsheet and within a document in which a set of spreadsheet cells are embedded. When a user modifies the embedded set of cells, the spreadsheet is updated to reflect the modification. A set of tasks, for instance each associated with descriptive text and one or more interactive elements, can be incorporated into a set of spreadsheet cells such that a user can interact with the tasks. A data value from a spreadsheet cell can be embedded into a document such that when the spreadsheet is updated and the data value changes, the corresponding embedded data value within the document can be changed. Spreadsheets can also include comments that can be navigated using a movable interface element that changes position within the spreadsheet based on a location of a set of cells corresponding to a comment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a collaborative content management system, a request to embed a first data value included within a first cell of a spreadsheet in a first file at a position within a second file different from the first file, wherein the first cell has a structure which includes one or more of cell boundaries and cell formatting;   responsive to receiving the request, embedding, by the collaborative content management system, a pointer to the first data value without including the structure of the first cell in the second file, the pointer embedded at the position within the second file identifying the spreadsheet and the first cell, wherein the pointer includes instructions causing the second file to be updated to incorporate the first data value responsive to detecting that an edit to one or more cells is made in the first file, the edit to the one or more cells modifying the first data value of the first cell to a second data value;   receiving, at a given time, by the collaborative content management system via the first file, the edit to one or more cells included within the first file; and   responsive to receiving the edit, dynamically updating, by the collaborative content management system and based on the pointer, the second file by replacing the first data value included within the second file with the second data value, the update to the second file occurring regardless of whether the second file is displayed at the given time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a formula is associated with the first cell and the one or more cells such that the second data value is based on the formula. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the formula comprises a summation of data values within the one or more cells, and wherein the second data value comprises a result of the summation of the data values. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the formula comprises an extrapolation formula, and wherein the second data value is an extrapolation based on data values within the one or more cells. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the formula comprises a count formula, wherein data values within the one or more cells comprise Boolean values, and wherein the second data value comprises one or more of a count of “0” values within the data values or a count of “1” values within the data values. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second file is updated in substantially real-time in response to receiving the edit to the one or more cells included within the spreadsheet in the first file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second file comprises a word processing document. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the word processing document includes a block of text, and wherein the block of text describes the first data value. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, by a collaborative content management system, a request to embed a first data value included within a first cell of a spreadsheet in a first file at a position within a second file different from the first file, wherein the first cell has a structure which includes one or more of cell boundaries and cell formatting; 
 responsive to receiving the request, embedding, by the collaborative content management system, a pointer to the first data value without including the structure of the first cell in the second file, the pointer embedded at the position within the second file identifying the spreadsheet and the first cell, wherein the pointer includes instructions causing the second file to be updated to incorporate the first data value responsive to detecting that an edit to one or more cells is made in the first file, the edit to the one or more cells modifying the first data value of the first cell to a second data value; 
 receiving, at a given time, by the collaborative content management system via the first file, the edit to one or more cells included within the first file; and 
 responsive to receiving the edit, dynamically updating, by the collaborative content management system and based on the pointer, the second file by replacing the first data value included within the second file with the second data value, the update to the second file occurring regardless of whether the second file is displayed at the given time. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a formula is associated with the first cell and the one or more cells such that the second data value is based on the formula. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the formula comprises a summation of data values within the one or more cells, and wherein the second data value comprises a result of the summation of data values. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the formula comprises an extrapolation formula, and wherein the second data value is an extrapolation based on data values within the one or more cells. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second file comprises a word processing document which includes a block of text, and wherein the block of text describes the first data value. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, by a collaborative content management system, a request to embed a first data value included within a first cell of a spreadsheet in a first file at a position within a second file different from the first file, wherein the first cell has a structure which includes one or more of cell boundaries and cell formatting;   responsive to receiving the request, embedding, by the collaborative content management system, a pointer to the first data value without including the structure of the first cell in the second file, the pointer embedded at the position within the second file identifying the spreadsheet and the first cell, wherein the pointer includes instructions causing the second file to be updated to incorporate the first data value responsive to detecting that an edit to one or more cells is made in the first file, the edit to the one or more cells modifying the first data value of the first cell to a second data value;   receiving, at a given time, by the collaborative content management system via the first file, the edit to one or more cells included within the first file; and   responsive to receiving the edit, dynamically updating, by the collaborative content management system and based on the pointer, the second file by replacing the first data value included within the second file with the second data value, the update to the second file occurring regardless of whether the second file is displayed at the given time.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein a formula is associated with the first cell and the one or more cells such that the second data value is based on the formula. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the formula comprises a summation of data values within the one or more cells, and wherein the second data value comprises a result of the summation of the data values. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the formula comprises an extrapolation formula, and wherein the second data value is an extrapolation based on data values within the one or more cells. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the formula comprises a count formula, wherein data values within the one or more cells comprise Boolean values, and wherein the second data value comprises one or more of a count of “0” values within the data values or a count of “1” values within the data values. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the second file comprises a word processing document. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the word processing document includes a block of text, and wherein the block of text describes the first data value.