1.1 Glossary
This document uses the following terms:
add-in: Supplemental functionality that is provided by an external application or macro to extend the capabilities of an application.
adjacent cell: A cell that is in the same row as and adjoins the current cell in a worksheet.
aggregation function: A function, such as sum or average, that appears in the total row of a table and is used to summarize data.
attribute: A characteristic of some object or entity, typically encoded as a name/value pair.
Augmented Backus-Naur Form (ABNF): A modified version of Backus-Naur Form (BNF), commonly used by Internet specifications. ABNF notation balances compactness and simplicity with reasonable representational power. ABNF differs from standard BNF in its definitions and uses of naming rules, repetition, alternatives, order-independence, and value ranges. For more information, see [RFC5234].
AutoComplete: A feature that suggests text automatically based on the first few characters that a user types.
AutoFilter: A mechanism that can be used to filter tabular data based on user-defined criteria such as values, strings, and formatting.
binary large image or picture (BLIP): A binary data structure that stores information about a metafile image or bitmap picture.
Boolean: An operation or expression that can be evaluated only as either true or false.
bottom N filter: A filter that matches the smallest numerical values or oldest time and date values in a specified range.
calculate: The process by which computations in a workbook are performed.
calculated column: A column in a table that contains a formula that is copied automatically to each record in the column.
cell: A box that is formed by the intersection of a row and a column in a worksheet or a table. A cell can contain numbers, strings, and formulas, and various formats can be applied to that data.
cell error value: Any of a number of special values that are returned as a result of an unsuccessful formula calculation.
cell reference: A set of coordinates that a cell occupies on a worksheet. For example, "B3" is the reference of a cell that appears at the intersection of column "B" and row "3".
cell value: The text or numeric content of a cell, or the results of a formula. A cell value does not include a formula expression, cell formatting, or other metadata.
character set: A mapping between the characters of a written language and the values that are used to represent those characters to a computer.
color scale: A specific range of colors that is used to give additional meaning to data by assigning certain values to colors in the spectrum.
column: A single set of data that is displayed vertically in a worksheet or a table.
comment: An annotation that is associated with a cell, text, or other object to provide context-specific information or reviewer feedback.
comment thread: A collection of annotations that is associated with a cell to provide context-specific information, viewer feedback and collaborative discussion, which is made of a main comment and its replies, if there are any.
condition: A logical expression comparing one or more properties in all incoming Message objects against a set of clauses. This logical expression can evaluate to TRUE or FALSE.
conditional formatting: A mechanism that changes the appearance of a user interface element based on the evaluation of a rule or expression.
control: A graphical user interface object that users interact with when working with applications, forms, documents, webpages, and other types of files.
credential: Previously established, authentication data that is used by a security principal to establish its own identity. When used in reference to the Netlogon Protocol, it is the data that is stored in the NETLOGON_CREDENTIAL structure.
cube function: A function that is used to extract and display Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) data sets and values.
custom filter: A filter that contains preconfigured expressions in which users can optionally enter a string to filter data.
custom list: A user-defined list or enumeration that can be used to sort data in a worksheet.
data bar: A graphical representation of cell content as a bar graph.
data connection: A collection of information, such as the type and location, that defines how to connect to an external data source, such as a database, web service, SharePoint list, or XML file.
data marker: A customizable symbol or shape that identifies a data point on a line, scatter, or radar chart. A data marker can be formatted with various sizes and colors.
data point: A representation of a PivotTable item in a PivotTable data field contained in a PivotChart report.
data provider: A known data source that is specific to a target type and that provides data to a collector type.
data source: A database, web service, disk, file, or other collection of information from which data is queried or submitted. Supported data sources vary based on application and data provider.
data table: A range of cells that is designated to perform what-if analysis for formulas, based on various input values.
data type: A property of a field that defines the kind of data that is stored in the field, or defines the kind of data returned by an expression when the expression is evaluated.
data validation: The process of testing the accuracy of data; a set of rules that specify the type and range of data that users can enter.
defined name: A word or string of characters in a formula that represents a cell, range of cells, formula, or constant value.
descendant: A member that is below the current member in a hierarchy.
dimension: A structural attribute of a cube, which is an organized hierarchy of categories (levels) that describe data in a fact table. These categories typically describe a similar set of members upon which the user bases an analysis.
display folder: A folder into which attributes, measures, calculated members, and key performance indicators can be organized to facilitate browsing.
drillthrough: A query that is used to retrieve individual records that were used to calculate an aggregate value.
dynamic array: An array resulting from a formula whose dimensions can change when the formula is evaluated.
email address: A string that identifies a user and enables the user to receive Internet messages.
English Metric Unit (EMU): A measurement in computer typography. There are 635 EMUs per twip, 6,350 EMUs per half-point, 12,700 EMUs per point, and 914,400 EMUs per inch. These units are used to translate on-screen layouts to printed layouts for specified printer hardware.
external code service: An external service responsible for executing code and returning result or error.
field: An element or attribute in a data source that can contain data.
filter: A mechanism by which a set of data is scoped to display only those entries that meet specified logical criteria.
formula: A logical equation or function that produces a result in a spreadsheet application.
future function: A function that can be written to but is not implemented in a file.
globally unique identifier (GUID): A term used interchangeably with universally unique identifier (UUID) in Microsoft protocol technical documents (TDs). Interchanging the usage of these terms does not imply or require a specific algorithm or mechanism to generate the value. Specifically, the use of this term does not imply or require that the algorithms described in [RFC4122] or [C706] have to be used for generating the GUID. See also universally unique identifier (UUID).
hash: A fixed-size result that is obtained by applying a one-way mathematical function, which is sometimes referred to as a hash algorithm, to an arbitrary amount of data. If the input data changes, the hash also changes. The hash can be used in many operations, including authentication and digital signing.
hidden: A condition of an object that prevents it from being displayed in rendered output.
hierarchy: A logical tree structure that organizes the members of a dimension such that each member has one parent member and zero or more child members.
icon: A graphical image used to supplement alphanumeric text in the visual identification of an object on a computer monitor. Icons are typically small, relative to the size of the area on which they are displayed.
icon set: A collection of icons that can be used to comment and classify data into categories.
ink: A process of entering text in handwritten form. Instead of converting handwritten text to typed text, ink is converted to an object and displayed exactly as it was written.
Input Method Editor (IME): An application that is used to enter characters in written Asian languages by using a standard 101-key keyboard. An IME consists of both an engine that converts keystrokes into phonetic and ideographic characters and a dictionary of commonly used ideographic words.
key value pair (KVP): A set of two linked data items: a key that is an identifier for some data item, and a value that is a value associated with the data item for the identifier represented by the key.
left-to-right: A reading order in which characters in words are read from left to right, and words are read from left to right in sentences.
locale: A collection of rules and data that are specific to a language and a geographical area. A locale can include information about sorting rules, date and time formatting, numeric and monetary conventions, and character classification.
locked: The condition of a cell, worksheet, or other object that restricts edits or modifications to it by users.
MDX unique name: A unique identifier for a multidimensional expression (MDX) member or value in a given Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) cube, for example "[Customer].[Customer Geography].[Country].&[Australia]".
measure: In a cube, a set of values that are typically numeric and are based on a column in the fact table of the cube. Measures are the central values that are aggregated and analyzed.
mention: A part of a threaded comment that provides a reference to a person's information.
Multidimensional Expressions (MDX): A syntax that is used for defining multidimensional objects, and for querying and manipulating multidimensional data.
named sheet view: A named set of sort and/or filter conditions that can be easily restored onto a given sheet.
nsvfilter: A set of sort and/or filter conditions associated with a single autofilter. Part of a named sheet view.
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE): A technology for transferring and sharing information between applications by inserting a file or part of a file into a compound document. The inserted file can be either embedded or linked. See also embedded object and linked object.
object model: A collection of object-oriented APIs that represent data structures and are designed to promote software interoperability.
OLAP All level: An optional level at the top of a hierarchy. It typically contains an OLAP All member that represents an aggregation of all of the lower-level members of that hierarchy.
OLAP All member: A multidimensional expression (MDX) that evaluates a hierarchy and returns a set that contains all of the members of the specified hierarchy.
OLAP allocation: An operation in which the values for members at lower levels in an OLAP hierarchy are changed based on changes to values for members at higher levels in that hierarchy.
OLAP hierarchy: An attribute hierarchy or a user-defined hierarchy in a data structure. By default, each dimension attribute has an attribute hierarchy. A user-defined hierarchy is a set of related attribute hierarchies that is used to facilitate browsing an OLAP cube.
OLAP level: Within an OLAP hierarchy, a set of data that is organized into a lower or higher level of detail, such as Year, Quarter, Month, and Day levels in a Time hierarchy.
OLAP measure: A set of numeric values in an OLAP cube that is used in aggregation and analysis.
OLAP member: An item that is in an OLAP level. For example, a Canada member in a Country level of a Geography hierarchy.
OLAP named set: A collection of OLAP tuples that have the same dimensionality. Also referred to as OLAP set.
OLAP subselect: The ability to execute multiple SELECT commands in a FROM clause that is inside a multidimensional expression (MDX) statement.
OLAP tuple: An ordered collection of members that are from different dimensions of an OLAP cube. A single member is a special case of a tuple.
OLAP weight expression: A multidimensional expression (MDX) that is used to apply and allocate modified values to an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) provider. It typically returns a decimal value between "0" and "1".
OLE DB: A set of interfaces that are based on the Component Object Model (COM) programming model and expose data from a variety of sources. These interfaces support the amount of Database Management System (DBMS) functionality that is appropriate for a data store and they enable a data store to share data.
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP): A technology that uses multidimensional structures to provide access to data for analysis. The source data for OLAP is stored in data warehouses in a relational database. See also cube.
PivotTable: An interactive table that summarizes large amounts of data from various sources by using format and calculation methods. Row and column headings can be rotated to view different summaries of the source data, filter the data, or display detail data for specific areas.
PivotTable data field: A PivotTable field that is contained in the PivotTable area where data values are shown.
PivotTable field: An element in a PivotTable report that represents a logical collection of data. A PivotTable field can represent a dimension hierarchy or actual data values.
PivotTable field list: A user interface element that displays a list of all of the fields in a PivotTable report. It can be used to populate a PivotTable report and to manipulate the fields.
pixel: A discrete unit of display on a computer display device.
plot area: A portion of a chart area that contains the plotted data and axes.
point: A unit of measurement for fonts and spacing. A point is equal to 1/72 of an inch.
protection: A mechanism that helps restrict users from making unwanted changes to the data or structure of a workbook.
Python script: executable code written in the Python programming language.
query table: A two-dimensional table that presents data from an external data source.
range: An addressable region that is in a workbook. A range typically consists of zero or more cells and represents a single, contiguous rectangle of cells on a single sheet.
rich array: A type of rich value data that is a two-dimensional array of values.
rich value: A complex representation of data that contains a rich value type, a rich value fallback, and a collection of key value pairs (KVP). A rich value can exist as the value of a cell or nested as the value in a key value pair.
rich value data: The value part of the key value pair (KVP).
rich value fallback: A value that will be used for any feature that does not know how to interpret a given rich value type.
rich value key: The name of the key in the key value pair (KVP).
rich value key flag: A rich value flag assigned to a particular rich value key. Each flag is assigned a Boolean value that indicates particular behaviors for the key.
rich value type: A collection of required key value pairs (KVP) and key flag definitions.
right-to-left: A reading and display order that is optimized for right-to-left languages.
root element: The top-level element in an XML document. It contains all other elements and is not contained by any other element, as described in [XML].
row: A single set of data that is displayed horizontally in a worksheet or a table.
salt: An additional random quantity, specified as input to an encryption function that is used to increase the strength of the encryption.
security descriptor: A data structure containing the security information associated with a securable object. A security descriptor identifies an object's owner by its security identifier (SID). If access control is configured for the object, its security descriptor contains a discretionary access control list (DACL) with SIDs for the security principals who are allowed or denied access. Applications use this structure to set and query an object's security status. The security descriptor is used to guard access to an object as well as to control which type of auditing takes place when the object is accessed. The security descriptor format is specified in [MS-DTYP] section 2.4.6; a string representation of security descriptors, called SDDL, is specified in [MS-DTYP] section 2.5.1.
selected: The condition of a set of items that has focus in a workbook.
service: A process or agent that is available on the network, offering resources or services for clients. Examples of services include file servers, web servers, and so on.
shape: A collection of qualifiers, such as names, and quantifiers, such as coordinates, that is used to represent a geometric object. A shape can be contained in a document, file structure, run-time structure, or other medium.
sheet: A part of an Excel workbook. There are four types of sheets: worksheet, macro sheet, dialog sheet, and chart sheet. Multiple sheets are stored together within a workbook.
sort: A process that arranges cells in ascending or descending order, based on cell content.
sort condition: A condition that determines how to sort cells in a range.
sort order: A specific arrangement of cells that is based on cell content. The order can be ascending or descending.
source data: The data that is used as the basis for charts, PivotTable reports, and other data visualization features.
sparkline: A miniature chart that can be inserted into text or embedded in a cell on a worksheet to illustrate highs, lows, and trends in data.
spreadsheet data model: A local Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) storage of data used by a spreadsheet application.
style: A set of formatting options that is applied to text, tables, charts, and other objects in a document.
supporting property bag: A set of GLOSSARY: [key value pairs (KVP)]. A supporting property bag can exist as the value of a rich value or nested as the value in another supporting property bag.
supporting property bag array: A type of supporting property bag data that is a one-dimensional array of values.
supporting property bag data: The value part of the key value pair (KVP).
supporting property bag key: The name of the key in a key value pair (KVP).
table: A list that is defined in a workbook.
threaded comment: A comment in a comment thread. It can be a main comment or a reply.
top N filter: A filter that matches the top or bottom N items or N% of items in a specified column.
Unicode: A character encoding standard developed by the Unicode Consortium that represents almost all of the written languages of the world. The Unicode standard [UNICODE5.0.0/2007] provides three forms (UTF-8, UTF-16, and UTF-32) and seven schemes (UTF-8, UTF-16, UTF-16 BE, UTF-16 LE, UTF-32, UTF-32 LE, and UTF-32 BE).
Uniform Resource Locator (URL): A string of characters in a standardized format that identifies a document or resource on the World Wide Web. The format is as specified in [RFC1738].
unique identifier (UID): A pair consisting of a GUID and a version sequence number to identify each resource uniquely. The UID is used to track the object for its entire lifetime through any number of times that the object is modified or renamed.
workbook: A container for a collection of sheets.
worksheet: A single logical container for a set of tabular data and other objects in a workbook.
XML: The Extensible Markup Language, as described in [XML1.0].
XML namespace: A collection of names that is used to identify elements, types, and attributes in XML documents identified in a URI reference [RFC3986]. A combination of XML namespace and local name allows XML documents to use elements, types, and attributes that have the same names but come from different sources. For more information, see [XMLNS-2ED].
XML schema definition (XSD): The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standard language that is used in defining XML schemas. Schemas are useful for enforcing structure and constraining the types of data that can be used validly within other XML documents. XML schema definition refers to the fully specified and currently recommended standard for use in authoring XML schemas.
XOR obfuscation: A type of file encryption that helps protect private data by using an exclusive or bitwise operation. This is done by adding a mathematical expression that prevents a simple reverse-engineering process.
zoom level: The degree to which a portion of an image, document, or other screen object is made to appear closer or farther away relative to its default appearance. This value is usually expressed as a percentage of the default appearance.
MAY, SHOULD, MUST, SHOULD NOT, MUST NOT: These terms (in all caps) are used as defined in [RFC2119]. All statements of optional behavior use either MAY, SHOULD, or SHOULD NOT.