Representation of people in a spreadsheet

摘要

A spreadsheet includes a native spreadsheet object that represents a person. The person object may be used within a spreadsheet just as any other spreadsheet objects are utilized. For example, the person object may be integrated with spreadsheet formulas and other spreadsheet objects such as charts, tables, pivot tables, sheets, and the like. Spreadsheet formulas may perform operations specific to a person object (e.g. send message, get contact information, get status, get other person specific information, sort, and the like). Common actions may be associated with the person object, such as initiating communication with the person represented by the person object (e.g. phone call, email, text message, collaboration invite, and the like). Social networking information may also be associated with a person object. For example, social networking posts may be included within a spreadsheet, a user may post to a social network from the spreadsheet, and the like.

主权项

1. A method for representing a person within a spreadsheet, comprising:
accessing a displayed spreadsheet that includes support for native objects comprising a person object and other native spreadsheet objects including chart objects and table objects, wherein the person object comprises fields including a name and a contact method; determining when a spreadsheet operation involves the person object that is displayed within the spreadsheet including a graphical representation of the person object and a graphical status indicator of the person that indicates an availability of the person object, wherein the graphical status indicator is configured to change a color and a shape of the graphical representation of the person object based on the changes in the availability of the person; configuring, in response to determining that the spreadsheet operation involves the person object, a view of the spreadsheet based on a person represented by the person object, wherein configuring the display comprises:
filtering and sorting objects of the spreadsheet based on the person represented by the person object, andproviding a context menu based on the person represented by the person object; determining that a second data object in the spreadsheet is associated with the person object; in response to determining that the second data object is associated with the person object, identifying a predetermined rule, wherein the predetermined rule is defined based on a data category of the second data object; and performing a spreadsheet operation involving the person object, wherein the spreadsheet operation:
treats the person object in a same manner as other native spreadsheet objects and are acted upon in a same manner as the other native spreadsheet objects, andapplies the predetermined rule.