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·
SolverTable
Add-in: Each version below has a corresponding Help file (a Word file) that
you should read before contacting me about problems. Each zip file below
contains only two files: the.xlam add-in file (or the .xla file for old
versions) and the Word help file. You should unzip both to the same folder (any
folder of your choice) and then read the help file for more instructions.
o
For
Solver that ships with Excel 2016, Excel 2019 for Windows, or Office 365 for
Windows: SolverTable.zip
o
For
Solver that ships with Excel for Mac: SolverTable for Mac.zip
¨
This
version of SolverTable was created for the Mac in October 2020. The essence of
SolverTable has always been that it makes multiple uninterrupted Solver
runs. For technical reasons, this is not possible in Excel for Mac, which
explains why a version of SolverTable had never been available for the Mac.
However, this version gets around the problem by making interrupted Solver
runs. Specifically, before each run, you are prompted whether you want to make
the next run. (This is explained more fully in the help file that is part of
this zip file.) Admittedly, the interruptions slow down the process to some
extent (besides the fact that Solver for the Mac is just plain slow), but it is
much better than making multiple Solver runs manually, each with new
input values. Fortunately, the user interface and the results sheets are
exactly the same as those for the Windows version of SolverTable.
o
SolverTable
fix: For those of you who have problems with SolverTable, here are
instructions for a possible fix: Fixing
SolverTable.docx.
o
SolverTable
tip for international users: A user from outside the US discovered why his
SolverTable wasn’t working. The problem was in the numerical settings (decimal
symbols and list separators), and the fix was to change these in Windows
settings, making sure the separator is a period, not a comma. I’m not sure how
common this problem might be, but if you’re outside the US and your SolverTable
isn’t working, this is worth a try.
o
Old
versions (no longer supported): SolverTable
2013.zip, SolverTable 2010.zip,
SolverTable 2007.zip
o
Missing
Solver Reference: Here is another
possible fix for SolverTable: Missing
Solver Reference.docx
o
A strange
SolverTable problem: Reynold Byers
and his students at Arizona State discovered that in a straightforward
integer-constrained model, SolverTable gave slightly suboptimal solutions. I
originally thought this had to do with the Integer Optimality setting, but that
wasn’t it. They found that the decimal input being varied, something like from
0 to 0.6 in increments of 0.1, was not being set to exactly 0.4, say, but
instead to something like 0.400025 – a slight roundoff – and this was enough to
cause the suboptimal solutions. Great detective work on their part, but I’m not
sure how to fix the problem. Anyway, be aware!
o
An interesting use of
SolverTable: One way to
use SolverTable is to let the Input cell(s) (for a one-way or two-way table) be
the initial value(s) of decision variable cell(s). For a linear model, the only
point in doing this would be to check that Solver indeed gets to the optimal
solution regardless of the initial values. For a nonlinear model, this could be
used to check whether there are local optima that Solver might get to,
depending on the initial values it starts from. (Thanks to Tom Schriber for
this suggestion.)
· DADM_Tools add-in: For various reasons, some users of our DADM and PMS books prefer not to use the Palisade add-ins discussed in these books. To provide another alternative, I created my own add-in called DADM_Tools that provides much of the basic functionality of the Palisade software. This add-in, written in Excel’s VBA language, is not used in the books but it is available here for free. Because it is totally free, no support is available. However, it is very easy to use, and it is compatible with Excel for Windows and Excel for Mac. Here is a link to instructions: DADM_Tools Help.docx. Here is a link to the add-in: DADM_Tools.xlam.
· Random Functions Add-Ins: The DADM_Tools add-in mentioned in the previous bullet includes, among other things, a simulation program. For technical reasons, the custom functions I developed to generate random numbers from various probability distributions are not included in the DADM_Tools add-in. If you are interested in the technical details, read Explanation of Functions for Generating Random Numbers.docx. However,…
o For Windows users, the random functions are contained in a special type of add-in (an XLL that works only with Excel for Windows 2010 or higher). First read the following: RandGen Add-In.docx (updated 1/24/2019). Then install the add-in by running the Setup file in: RandGenSetup.zip.
o For Mac users, the random functions are in the following add-in: Random Functions for the Mac.xlam. Note that if you open one of my simulation example files when this add-in is loaded, the “green” cells that contain the random functions will probably show errors. However, if you select one of these cells and then select the formula in the formula bar and press return, the function will work properly. I have no idea why this happens. On the bright side, if you enter your own random functions, they should work fine.
o For either version, Windows or Mac, you will see @ symbols in your formulas, which you can ignore. Go back to my home page to read about these strange symbols.
· Excel tutorial: Here is a free version of my Excel tutorial: Excel Tutorial for Windows.xlsx. It provides information for upgrading to a more complete version called ExcelNow!. You can also download a version of the tutorial for the Mac: Excel Tutorial for the Mac.xlsx. By comparing these, you can see which features in Excel for Windows are not included in Excel for Mac.
· Analysis ToolPak Guide: This is a supplement to our books for those of you who would like to use Excel’s built-in Analysis ToolPak add-in for statistical analysis. The zip file contains a pdf version of the guide and accompanying data files: Analysis ToolPak Guide.zip
· StatPro and StatBasics Add-Ins
o StatPro for Excel 2007 and later: Although I no longer support StatPro, I tinker with it from time to time, and this version is the result: StatPro New.zip. It doesn’t have all the options from the original StatPro (e.g., stepwise regression is missing), but it has some new features and a slightly different interface. It is contained in a single .xla file, and it works with Excel 2007 and later versions. To load it, just double-click the .xla file.
o StatPro for the Mac: Some of you have requested a version of StatPro for the Mac, that is, for the Mac version of Excel. This was originally impossible because early version of Excel for Mac didn’t even have VBA, the programming language. That changed in Excel 2011, but the VBA interface is quite different from the one in Excel for Windows. Anyway, I gave it a shot, and you can try out this version: StatPro for Mac.zip. However, you’re completely on your own; I provide no support for this version. VBA programming for the Mac is no fun!
o
StatBasics for Excel 2007:
StatBasics for Excel
2007.zip. This is a mini version of StatPro I created, mostly to practice
my programming skills. It provides only the basics: summary measures and useful
statistical charts. Installation instructions are in the zip file. Try it out,
but keep in mind that I do not provide any support for it.
Visit the Cengage site for our books.
Send e-mail to albright@indiana.edu
Albright and Winston are both
retired from the Kelley
School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington.
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Updated: 3/10/2023