METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING LABEL REFERENCES IN SPREADSHEET FORMULAS

A system for referencing a range of cells in a spreadsheet formula by using label references. The label references are used to identify labels within the spreadsheet which, in turn, refer to a range of cells. First, a formula is parsed in order to identify any label references within the formula. Second, the cells of the spreadsheet are searched in order to generate a list of labels within the spreadsheet that match the label references identified in the formula. Third, each of the labels are examined and a preferred label set is selected. The preferred label set represents the actual labels that were intended by the formula references. Finally, the range of cells referenced by the preferred label set is determined. Thus, a user is able to reference a cell within a spreadsheet table by entering column and row labels that intersect at that cell.