Collaborative Table Reconstitution for Spreadsheet Formula Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
During copy and paste operations between computer applications, formatting and formulas in spreadsheet tables are often lost, leading to a loss of important contextual information, making it difficult to understand the relationships between data.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that analyzes data for fields likely determined by formulas, stores this information as tags, and retrieves it to integrate the formulas back into the target application, ensuring that the original attributes and calculations are maintained during data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is copied from one application to another application, then the data transfer is completed efficiently, but the formatting and formulas associated with the data are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transfer process into distinct components: the visible data values and the hidden metadata (formulas and formatting information). By separating these elements and handling them through different mechanisms, the system can transfer data efficiently while preserving the formula information through collaborative analysis and reconstruction techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing collaborative analysis on the transferred data to identify fields that were originally determined by formulas before finalizing the data integration. This preliminary identification and tagging of formula-determined fields occurs during the data reception and analysis phase, allowing the system to reconstruct formulas afterward rather than trying to preserve them during the initial copy operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If continuous shift of content occurs during transfer, then the data can be adapted to different applications, but the value and relationships of the data are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously analyzing the transferred data to identify fields that appear to be determined by formulas based on their characteristics and relationships with other fields. This feedback loop allows the system to detect and tag formula-determined fields even after the data has been shifted or transformed during transfer, enabling subsequent reconstruction of the original data relationships and values.
3Device complexity
If only raw data is transferred without additional information, then the transfer process is simple and fast, but the contextual information needed to understand the data relationships is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary analysis and reconstruction system that sits between the data transfer process and the final data integration. This intermediary performs collaborative analysis to identify formula-determined fields and tags them appropriately, acting as a mediator that adds contextual information about data relationships without complicating the core transfer mechanism. The intermediary enables simple fast transfer while still preserving contextual information through automated analysis and tagging.
Data Source
AI summary
Reconstituting an attribute associated with data. Data in a tabular form may be received. The data is analyzed for a field that is likely to be determined by a formula. Responsive to identifying the field likely to be determined by the formula, An indication of the field and the formula with the data are stored in a repository. The indication of the field and the formula with the data from the repository may be retrieved to facilitate incorporating the data in an application with the formula for the field integrated into the application.