Spread Sheet Change Sideshow (04-Nov-2009)

Spread Sheet Change Sideshow

Large complex spread sheets are common place and use multiple cell formulas. These formulas use a vast array of cells as input. A user can update a single cell value and this simple change may ripple many changes throughout the spreadsheet. A small change may adversely effect a critical data point or the bottom line. One of the difficulties in dealing with spreadsheets is that their size can be so expansive, it is impossible to have a single view the entire spreadsheet. Therefore a small or seemingly innocent cell value change may have unattended and unnoticed effect on the spreadsheet and the business model being represented by spreadsheet.

For example, a spreadsheet represents a production line of beer. In order to make quarterly numbers, a cost savings measure is to reduce the amount of a special grain purchased for production. Total production is reduced, but inventory levels will prevent a short fall. The bottom line seems OK. However, there is a specific line of beer which cannot drop below a contractual minimum, and this beer uses large amounts of this grain. If the production amount of this special beer went unnoticed because it was in a separate area of the spreadsheet, bad things would happen.

This invention discusses the idea to provide the user with a unique and effective method of viewing all cell changes effected by a single cell change.

This idea is a feature that after updating...