FirstCells was a Grails application developed in 2011-2012. It’s main purpose was to merge Excel-Based cell content into InDesign layouted cell content using the LCS algorithm.

The specification included detailed information about the domain class model, controller classes, services as well as other GROOVY classes.

Also, the entire application model, from its business logic, its persistance concept, roles and conventions and, of course, the description of the implementation of the LCS algorithm regarding how an InDesign cell’s content will evolve, is described within this document.

The application was used in development of the design of annual reports of German companies like RWE, OLB, CeWe Color, Deufol and others.

Specification

Download an excerpt of the specification of FirstCells as PDF file:

https://nils-doormann.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/firstcells_001.pdf

References

LCS-Problem:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_common_subsequence_problem

A diff Java implementation:

• https://github.com/jpace/java-diff

About Data Transfer Objects:

• http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transferobjekt
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_transfer_object

Grails, Groovy, Java & Spring stuff:

• https://grails.org/index.html