Spreadsheet Hierarchical Headers vs. Hierarchical Data
We say there is a hierarchical structure if there exists
a cell that describes another row/column.
For example, the arrow in the left figure below indicates that
"Male, total" describes all the data values in the row of "45 to 64 years old",
and the arrow in the right figure below indicates that "Resident
population" describes all the data values in the column of "Increase over preceding census".
We say a spreadsheet has the hierarchical data if
the data region contains the hierarchical structure;
Similarly, we say a spreadsheet has the hierarchical header if
the header region contains the hierarchical structure.
Example Questions.
Example 1.
Please look at the spreadsheets on the left and try to answer the following
questions.
Does the spreadsheet on the left contain hierarchical data? Answer: No
Does the spreadsheet on the left contain hierarchical header? Answer: No
Example 2.
Please look at the spreadsheets on the left and try to answer the following
questions.
Does the spreadsheet on the left contain hierarchical data? Answer: Yes
Does the spreadsheet on the left contain hierarchical header? Answer: Yes
