Spreadsheet cell-based notifications

摘要

A workflow includes an activity that takes advantage of spreadsheet calculations. For a spreadsheet activity, calculation and extraction of values from a spreadsheet is performed. Thus, spreadsheet calculations are integrated into workflows without user intervention. After the workflow is complete, or after a spreadsheet activity is calculated, or upon a threshold or condition being met, a user or system may be notified (e.g., by email, instant message, etc.). Values from previous activities in the workflow may be obtained and provided to the spreadsheet (e.g., cell values are set, modified, or adjusted). The spreadsheet may then be recalculated using these obtained values. Moreover, values from the spreadsheet may be used in subsequent parts of the workflow. Also, any number of spreadsheet activities may be incorporated into a workflow, and one spreadsheet activity may provide values to a second spreadsheet activity in the workflow.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
responsive to a generation of a first spreadsheet file:
designating a threshold value of a cell in the first spreadsheet file;designating a schedule to refresh and recalculate the first spreadsheet file;initiating a first automated workflow process;initiating a second automated workflow process; andresponsive to receiving an output value from the first automated workflow process, executing the second automated workflow process; obtaining, without user intervention, based on the schedule, a first value of the cell in the first spreadsheet file at a first workflow activity of the first automated workflow process executing on a computing device and providing the first value to a second workflow activity of the first automated workflow process; calling the second workflow activity by the first automated workflow process executing on the comprising device; responsive to calling the second workflow activity by the first automated workflow process executing on the computing device, the second workflow activity, without user intervention:
opening a second spreadsheet file,entering the first value into the second spreadsheet file,recalculating the second spreadsheet file to generate a second value in the second spreadsheet file using the first value, andproviding the second value to a third workflow activity; determining, at the third workflow activity of the first automated workflow process executing on the computing device, that the threshold value has been met based on the second value; and responsive to determining that the threshold value has been met, initiating a fourth workflow activity of the fist automated workflow process that exposes the second value as the output value and transmits from the computing device to the second automated workflow process a cell-based notification comprising the output value.