Fluid Visualization Of Spreadsheet Structures (Page 7 of 8) in pdf

to the development of interactive graphical applications.

We implemented these interaction techniques in our

NoPumpG [29] applied the idea of the spreadsheet’s

prototype spreadsheet program, and they noticeably improve

automatic maintenance of predefined relationships among

the understandability of spreadsheets. Keys to our approach

cell values to the control of graphical representations. C32

are carefully designed graphical integration of the dataflow

[19] used a spreadsheet interface for constructing constraints

information with the spreadsheet layout, animation of all

in user interface toolkits. Forms/3 [3, 10] is a general-

graphical changes, and lightweight interaction. We found

purpose visual programming language based on the

fading animations to be particularly effective—the user

spreadsheet paradigm. Yang et al. proposed design

becomes subtly aware of the existence of the hidden dataflow

benchmarks for visual programming [30] including static

graph at the position where it has faded away.

dataflow visualization.

Future work includes integration with more realistic

Toolglass and Magic Lenses [2] use spatially dedicated

spreadsheet programs. As we mentioned earlier, our

lenses to visually present and interact with the underlying

prototype spreadsheet program is written using Pad++ [1,

information layer. In contrast to a Magic Lens visualization

23] and Python running on Unix platforms. Although Pad++

of the dataflow structure of spreadsheets, fluid visualization

provides powerful scaling and animation primitives for

controls the entire space in a coordinated way, providing a

exploring novel ideas rapidly, it exacts a performance toll.

more integrated interface.

As a result, smooth animation is possible only for

Zooming interfaces [1, 24] and distortion-oriented

spreadsheets containing 400 cells or fewer. Scaling our

focus+context techniques [9, 15, 16] are efforts to present

experiences to larger spreadsheets raises three issues:

vast information spaces within a limited screen space. They

animation

performance,

algorithm

performance,

and

try to present a focal part of the information space clearly

visualization and navigation of large spreadsheet structures.

while maintaining the surrounding context. For example,

We are confident that a custom implementation would

work on visualization of spreadsheets [26, 28] use

support animation of larger spreadsheets comfortably. Our

focus+context techniques to visualize very large tabular

algorithms for supporting our various techniques rely upon

layouts. The difference is that our focus is on the

traditional dataflow computations that are computationally

visualization of the hidden dataflow structure behind the

tractable

for

larger

spreadsheets.

Visualization

and

tabular layout, and not that of the tabular layout itself.

navigation of very large spreadsheets, where cells refer to

Many modern user interface systems incorporate

distant cells outside of the boundaries of the screen, is a

animation [3, 21]. Animations can give the feeling of solidity,

more substantive issue.

We expect that animated

continuity, and real existence to visual objects. They help the

presentation and semantic navigation techniques would be

user to understand visual events by softening abrupt changes

especially useful for such spreadsheets. In these cases,

on the screen. They are indispensable tools to present a

automatic camera controls may be required, such as zooming

sequence of events in an intuitive way (i.e. algorithm

out to provide a larger context, panning to a logically-

animation [25]). In this paper, we proposed another useful

connected cell, and then zooming in to permit a closer view.

application of animation effects: animations to reify and

Fluid visualization for spreadsheets is a particular

visualize invisible information. It is difficult to present

application of our general set of fluid user interface

hidden dataflow structures with static representations.

techniques, whose goal is to provide lightweight, contextual,

Animation makes it possible to visualize these invisible

and animated access to a secondary layer of content while

structures.

maintaining the appearance of the primary material. Fluid

Our graphical induction technique can be seen as an

techniques allow the user to fluidly shift attention from

application of programming by demonstration/example

primary to secondary content, as the system fluidly alters its

techniques [7]. Metamouse [17] detects repetition in the

display to show previously hidden secondary content in the

user’s graphical editing operations and suggests the next

context of its associated primary content. Other domains in

operation. Eager [6] analyzes a sequence of HyperCard

which we have explored fluid user interfaces include

operations and suggests the next set of operations.

hypertext linking [31] and annotation [4]. Among possible

further applications of the fluid visualization techniques are

Chimera [14] and IMAGE [19] find appropriate geometric

maps, CAD diagrams, and other graphical domains with rich

constraints from given graphical examples.

underlying structures. Our experiences so far suggest that

fluid techniques can be a powerful aid to users in a wide

9 Discussion and conclusions

variety of situations that require comprehending and

interacting with data.

Spreadsheets have hidden dataflow graphs in addition to

their superficial tabular layouts. We have presented a series

References

of techniques that make the dataflow structure visible and

accessible, while maintaining the original appearance of the

1. Bederson, B.B., Hollan, J., Perlin, K., Meyer, J., Bacon, D., and

spreadsheet. The goal of these techniques is to impart a

Furnas, G., Pad++: a zoomable sketchpad for exploring

better understanding of the dataflow structure by letting the

user visually interact with these hidden structures.

Fluid Visualization Of Spreadsheet Structures Page 7

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