METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A SPREADSHEET REPORT TEMPLATE

Methods and apparatus for generating a report template for generation of a spreadsheet report are disclosed. First, a grid including a plurality of cells is displayed. One or more database fields for which data is to be obtained from a database are identified, where each of the database fields is associated with a separate group with which one or more rows in the grid can be associated. One or more groups as defined by the one or more database fields are then associated with a corresponding set of one or more rows in the grid, thereby associating cells within the set of rows with the corresponding group. A user may then enter information within one or more of the plurality of cells of the displayed grid, where the received information indicates at least one of a format of the spreadsheet report to be created and information to be displayed in one or more cells of the spreadsheet report. The report template is then generated from the received information such that the groups are associated with the received information corresponding to placement of the received information within the grid. The received information may, for instance, include a formula or formatting commands.