The Spread component provides the models that provide a basis for much of the customization that is possible with the component. The models are the underlying template from which the more commonly used shortcut objects are derived.

The shortcut objects access the underlying models. When you work with shortcut objects, you are actually working with the models in the component. For example, if you change the number of columns in a sheet using the Sheets shortcut object, the model for this (the default sheet axis model) is updated with that information.

To provide different features or customize the behavior or appearance of your application, you can extend the models to create new classes. For example you may do this to create a template component for all the developers in your organization. By creating your own class based on one of the models, you can create a customized class and provide it to all the developers to use.

Use the object models for the following benefits:

• For better performance: if you are setting several properties, for example, your application will be faster if you set the properties for an object, and then assign that object to Spread.
• For specialized features: if you want to create your own customized features, such as extending the data model to bring in a tab-delimited file, you can extend the BaseSheetDataModel to do so. If you want to create your own cell type or customize the behavior of how users select cells, you can do that through the models.
• For consistency in development: if you are a development team that would like to have consistency in some custom style and custom behavior, make the changes in the models and the entire team can benefit.
• For more complete understanding of the product: if you are using many of the features of the component, the most efficient way to customize the component is by first understanding the workings of the models upon which the objects are based.

For more information about the underlying models and how to use them, refer to Understanding the Underlying Models.