| 摘要 |
A methodology for representing hierarchical relationships between data in cells utilizes formatting of rows, columns, and cell borders, as well as blank rows. Such formatting and data table structure can be manipulated manually by a user, or automatically by software code, or via some combination of the two. The methodology involves first setting hierarchical relationships between columns or group of columns, or rows and groups of rows, in a spreadsheet or other document as levels and/or groups. Preferably, hierarchical relationships between data added to cells defined in different levels is represented by formatting a connecting border between cells in different levels with a line on either a left or right side (e.g. for columns) or a top or bottom (e.g. for rows). |
| 主权项 |
1. A method for converting a data table to a data table graphically presenting hierarchical relationships, the method comprising:
(a) displaying, to a user via a display associated with an electronic device, a data table comprising a plurality of rows and columns defining a plurality of cells; (b) receiving, from the user via one or more input devices associated with the electronic device, an indication to assign a first set of one or more columns of the plurality of columns to a first level; (c) automatically sorting, in response to the received indication to assign the first set of columns to the first level, the data table based on data in a left-most column of the first set of columns; (d) automatically determining one or more groups of rows having duplicate data in the left-most column of the first set of columns, and, for each group, removing duplicate values in subsequent rows after the first row; (e) automatically formatting a connecting border to the right of the right-most column of the first set of columns such that a connecting line is established connecting the right-most column of the first set of columns and one or more associated cells in the column immediately to the right of the right-most column of the first set of columns; (f) inserting one or more blank rows separating the one or more groups of rows found to have duplicate data in the left-most column of the first set of columns; (g) receiving, from the user via one or more input devices associated with the electronic device, an indication to assign a second set of one or more columns of the plurality of columns to a second level; (h) in response to the received indication to assign the second set of columns to the second level, for each group of cells associated with the same parent group in the first level,
(i) sorting the data table based on data in a left-most column of the second set of columns, such sorting only sorting together cells associated with the same parent group in the first level;(ii) automatically determining one or more groupings of rows having duplicate data in the left-most column of the second set of columns, and, for each grouping, removing duplicate values in subsequent rows after the first row;(iii) automatically formatting a connecting border to the right of the right-most column of the second set of columns such that a connecting line is established connecting the right-most column of the second set of columns and one or more associated cells in the column immediately to the right of the right-most column of the second set of columns;(iv) inserting one or more blank rows separating the one or more groupings of rows found to have duplicate data in the left-most column of the second set of columns. |
