1. A processor implemented method for storing formatting information for at least one cell in a spreadsheet document described in a markup language, wherein the spreadsheet document includes a plurality of style objects, the method comprising: obtaining cell formatting information for the at least one cell from a master style object that stores master formatting information for the at least one cell; obtaining named style information for the at least one cell from a style name object that stores named styles for the at least one cell and references the cell master style object; obtaining cell specific formatting information for the at least one cell from a cell-specific style object that includes cell specific formatting information for the at least one cell and references the master style object, wherein the cell specific formatting information overrides master formatting information; and storing combined cell formatting information for the at least one cell in a cell format object, wherein the combined cell formatting information in the cell format object comprises named styles for the at least one cell, cell-specific formatting information that overrides formatting information in the master style object, and master formatting information that has not been overridden by the cell-specific formatting information.