By sethcohn on

http://trimpath.com/project/wiki/TrimSpreadsheet

Javascript based GPLed spreadsheet. Someone should do something with this... Imagine this as part of a flexinode?

Some form of templating? (ie set up formulas ahead of time, lock the spreadsheet, and only allow input in certain cells)

Comments

JohnG-1’s picture

JohnG-1 commented

as a non-programmer I can only agree very strongly.

A spreadsheet module based on TrimSpreadsheet could be easily become inundated with feature requests though ;)

If it could be implemented as a Flexinode field this would seem to go with the current flow away from over-specialised modules toward user (admin) configured nodes.

thegleek’s picture

thegleek commented

is drupal capable of doing what slashdot.org does with
their posts? +1 funny, etc... etc...

sethcohn’s picture

sethcohn commented

see http://drupal.org/node/23703

sethcohn’s picture

sethcohn commented

http://www.numsum.com/

There is no reason we shouldn't be able to do a spreadsheet node or field now...

sethcohn’s picture

sethcohn commented

http://www.numsum.com/spreadsheet/show/869

They encourage using this:

<iframe src="http://numsum.com/spreadsheet/show_plain/869" width="100%" height="300"></iframe>

to embed a spreadsheet into a blog/etc. I really want to see this embedded via drupal as a field or node...

JohnG-1’s picture

JohnG-1 commented

iframes are sh*t and storing node data on a 3rd party server sounds like a can of worms.

sethcohn’s picture

sethcohn commented

According to the author of TrimSpreadsheet:

Tech-speaking, all you need is a way to save <div> and <table> HTML code/text, so spreadsheets might just be able to fit anywhere. Well, at least that's the handwavy 80% of the concept.

Someone want to take a shot at it?

JohnG-1’s picture

JohnG-1 commented

I would if I could but I'm new to php & drupal.

the tinyMCE wysiwig editor is all javascript too, the tinyMCE module creates the drupal interface for it. Perhaps this would be a good starting point for module code?

do we want some 'feature requests' for how it is integrated , eg as a node-type or as a flexinode field ? i'm not sure which would work best in practice.

How should spreadsheet data be stored? a simple CSV or an SQL table for each spreadsheet created ...?

sethcohn’s picture

sethcohn commented

The different between tinymce and this is great (i think)... tinymce returns html code within a textarea... this is more dynamic.

I'd suggest doing a flexinode (since maximum flexiblity would result, a new node type means you'd have yet another fixed format.

The key here is using javascript to call the right code function, and also post to a save URL to save the right parts. You don't need CSV or SQL, it's a purely text based 'file' that describes the spreadsheet contents.

For someone interested in this (noncoders please do not apply), see the mostly complete implemention at numsum. Drupal would be slightly different, but not much.

Anonymous’s picture

Anonymous (not verified) commented

Maybe the Simple Spreadsheet project may be better suited? It an SF project http://sourceforge.net/projects/simplsheet/ with a demo page at http://www.simple-groupware.de/demo/simple_spreadsheet/index.php.

I've been searching most of today for a simple spreadsheet module that stores the data online. This would be a great addition to Drupal. I found and tried out numsum.com which uses the trimSpreadSheet but I didn't like it as well as the simple-groupware one.

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jarea’s picture

jarea commented

I have linked in a Google spreadsheet into a node using iframe. It works great, though the comments about the content not being on the server are valid. Google spreadsheet is far superior to TrimSpreadsheet.

JohnG-1’s picture

JohnG-1 commented

Worth considering: the views_calc and (CCK) computed_field modules, although currently quite basic, would seem like a good way to go in the longer term.

Computed_field allows you to create a custom CCK field that takes values from other fields, runs them through 'custom PHP code' and outputs the value to database/ custom field. Well worth tinkering with! The computed value is updated on node (re)submit.

Views_calc currently allows you to Sum, Count, etc columns or rows in Views tables - it really needs a custom code widget. The computed value is updated on when the view is called.

flickerfly’s picture

flickerfly commented

Those interested in this idea may want to check out http://drupal.org/project/sheetnode as it is an implementation of SocialCalc in Drupal.

mcfilms’s picture

mcfilms commented

This looked promising but, the javascript version of SocialCalc doesn't seem to be available anymore. My attempt to visit SocialCalc.Org lead me to http://www.socialtext.com/ which is a commercial enterprise.

Is SocialCalc available as a download?

A list of some of the Drupal sites I have designed and/or developed can be viewed at motioncity.com

infojunkie’s picture

infojunkie
Location Vancouver
commented

The sheetnode module page explains how to get a working copy of SocialCalc.