A method and system that that allows a designer to create "spreadsheet" web pages, which can then be viewed and used by the designer and/or by other users. The described embodiments of the present invention allow people to collaborate and to share spreadsheets over the web. The described embodiment allows a user of the spreadsheet to email the spreadsheet to others and to embed the spreadsheet into web pages owned by the designer or by third parties. A described embodiments of the web-based spreadsheet allowed the designer to specify both web data and real-time data in the cells of the "spreadsheet." The web data includes a URL of an image that is to be placed in a cell. The web data includes a link to a web page in a cell. The real-time data includes stock quotes and currency conversion information in the cells of the spreadsheet. Such data reflects a current (or specified) day's stock quote or a current (or specified) currency conversion value.

An apparatus and method inhibit multiple submission requests by placing an intermediate web page between the page where the user submits information and the following page. After a preset period of time viewing the intermediate page, the user is redirected automatically to the following page. If a user then presses "Reload" or "Refresh" on their browser, the submission of information is not duplicated, thereby hindering multiple submission requests.

The invention provides a method for configuring a database system to store information regarding a plurality of items, the method comprising: establishing a database on a computer system; establishing within the database a first object corresponding to a first item of the plurality of items; generating within the first object at least one field; associating a field identifier with each the field; and storing at least a portion of the information within each the field; the database system configured to store information regarding a plurality of items, each item in the plurality of items having at least one item attribute, the database system comprising a computer having memory, a database stored in said memory, a first object in said database corresponding to one item of the plurality of items, said first object corresponding to the first item, at least one field in said first object, a field identifier associated with each said field, and information regarding said first item stored in said first object.

A method and data structure that allows a user to view a spreadsheet in a "calculator" mode, wherein certain cells are non-editable. The calculator designer/creator can alter the default as to which cells are editable when the calculator is displayed in the calculator preview mode. Once the designer/creator made all modifications in the calculator preview mode, the user can change the cell values in the calculator mode based on the adjustments made in the calculator preview mode. The invention further allows the user to embed the calculator in any web page, to email a link to the calculator, and to open and save the calculator.

One embodiment of the present invention distributes data via a network to remotely located users. Historical purchase information for a first user is stored in a database. Authorization is received over a network from the first user allowing a second user to view at least a portion of the historical purchase information. In addition, the first user selectively specifies which historical purchase information may be viewed by the second customer. An electronic notification is transmitted to the second user, wherein the notification informs the second user of the first user's authorization.