Solver in Excel
1 Answer(s)
Geetha
The Solver add-in is a Microsoft Excel add-in program that is available when you install Microsoft Office or Excel. To use it in Excel, however, you need to load it first.
1.Click the File tab, and then click Options.
2.Click Add-Ins, and then in the Manage box, select Excel Add-ins.
3.Click Go.
4.In the Add-Ins available box, select the Solver Add-in check box, and then click OK.
If Solver Add-in is not listed in the Add-Ins available box, click Browse to locate the add-in.
If you get prompted that the Solver add-in is not currently installed on your computer, click Yes to install it.
5.After you load the Solver add-in, the Solver command is available in the Analysis group on the Data tab.
Define and solve a problem by using Solver
Important This feature isn’t available in Office on a Windows RT PC. Want to see what version of Office you're using?
Solver is a Microsoft Excel add-in program you can use for what-if analysis. Use Solver to find an optimal (maximum or minimum) value for a formula in one cell — called the objective cell — subject to constraints, or limits, on the values of other formula cells on a worksheet. Solver works with a group of cells, called decision variables or simply variable cells that are used in computing the formulas in the objective and constraint cells. Solver adjusts the values in the decision variable cells to satisfy the limits on constraint cells and produce the result you want for the objective cell.
Note Versions of Solver prior to Excel 2007 referred to the objective cell as the "target cell," and the decision variable cells as "changing cells" or "adjustable cells".
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Example of a Solver evaluation
Define and solve a problem
Step through Solver trial solutions
Change how Solver finds solutions
Save or load a problem model
Solving methods used by Solver
More help on using Solver
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example of a Solver evaluation
In the following example, the level of advertising in each quarter affects the number of units sold, indirectly determining the amount of sales revenue, the associated expenses, and the profit. Solver can change the quarterly budgets for advertising (decision variable cells B5:C5), up to a total budget constraint of $20,000 (cell F5), until the total profit (objective cell F7) reaches the maximum possible amount. The values in the variable cells are used to calculate the profit for each quarter, so they are related to the formula objective cell F7, =SUM (Q1 Profit:Q2 Profit).
Before Solver evaluation
Callout 1 Variable cells
Callout 2 Constrained cell
Callout 3 Objective cell
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After Solver runs, the new values are as follows.
After Solver evaluation
Define and solve a problem
1.On the Data tab, in the Analysis group, click Solver.
Analysis group on the Data tab
If the Solver command or the Analysis group is not available, you need to activate the Solver add-in.
How to activate the Solver add-in
1.Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-Ins category.
2.In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go.
3.In the Add-ins available box, select the Solver Add-in check box, and then click OK.
2.In the Set Objective box, enter a cell reference or name for the objective cell. The objective cell must contain a formula.
3.Do one of the following:
If you want the value of the objective cell to be as large as possible, click Max.
If you want the value of the objective cell to be as small as possible, click Min.
If you want the objective cell to be a certain value, click Value of, and then type the value in the box.
4.In the By Changing Variable Cells box, enter a name or reference for each decision variable cell range. Separate the nonadjacent references with commas. The variable cells must be related directly or indirectly to the objective cell. You can specify up to 200 variable cells.
5.In the Subject to the Constraints box, enter any constraints that you want to apply by doing the following:
1.In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Add.
2.In the Cell Reference box, enter the cell reference or name of the cell range for which you want to constrain the value.
3.Click the relationship ( <=, =, >=, int, bin, or dif ) that you want between the referenced cell and the constraint.If you click int, integer appears in the Constraint box. If you click bin, binary appears in the Constraint box. If you click dif, alldifferent appears in the Constraint box.
4.If you choose <=, =, or >= for the relationship in the Constraint box, type a number, a cell reference or name, or a formula.
5.Do one of the following:
To accept the constraint and add another, click Add.
To accept the constraint and return to the Solver Parameters dialog box, click OK.
Note You can apply the int, bin, and dif relationships only in constraints on decision variable cells.
You can change or delete an existing constraint by doing the following:
In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click the constraint that you want to change or delete.
Click Change and then make your changes, or click Delete.
6.Click Solve and do one of the following:
To keep the solution values on the worksheet, in the Solver Results dialog box, click Keep Solver Solution.
To restore the original values before you clicked Solve, click Restore Original Values.
Notes
You can interrupt the solution process by pressing Esc. Excel recalculates the worksheet with the last values that are found for the decision variable cells.
To create a report that is based on your solution after Solver finds a solution, you can click a report type in the Reports box and then click OK. The report is created on a new worksheet in your workbook. If Solver doesn't find a solution, only certain reports or no reports are available.
To save your decision variable cell values as a scenario that you can display later, click Save Scenario in the Solver Results dialog box, and then type a name for the scenario in the Scenario Name box.
Step through Solver trial solutions
1.After you define a problem, click Options in the Solver Parameters dialog box.
2.In the Options dialog box, select the Show Iteration Results check box to see the values of each trial solution, and then click OK.
3.In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Solve.
4.In the Show Trial Solution dialog box, do one of the following:
To stop the solution process and display the Solver Results dialog box, click Stop.
To continue the solution process and display the next trial solution, click Continue.
Change how Solver finds solutions
1.In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Options.
2.Choose or enter values for any of the options on the All Methods, GRG Nonlinear, and Evolutionary tabs in the dialog box.
Save or load a problem model
1.In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Load/Save.
2.Enter a cell range for the model area, and click either Save or Load.
When you save a model, enter the reference for the first cell of a vertical range of empty cells in which you want to place the problem model. When you load a model, enter the reference for the entire range of cells that contains the problem model.
Tip You can save the last selections in the Solver Parameters dialog box with a worksheet by saving the workbook. Each worksheet in a workbook may have its own Solver selections, and all of them are saved. You can also define more than one problem for a worksheet by clicking Load/Save to save problems individually.
Solving methods used by Solver
You can choose any of the following three algorithms or solving methods in the Solver Parameters dialog box:
Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) Nonlinear Use for problems that are smooth nonlinear.
LP Simplex Use for problems that are linear.
Evolutionary Use for problems that are non-smooth.
Apr 10 2014 08:02 PM
1.Click the File tab, and then click Options.
2.Click Add-Ins, and then in the Manage box, select Excel Add-ins.
3.Click Go.
4.In the Add-Ins available box, select the Solver Add-in check box, and then click OK.
If Solver Add-in is not listed in the Add-Ins available box, click Browse to locate the add-in.
If you get prompted that the Solver add-in is not currently installed on your computer, click Yes to install it.
5.After you load the Solver add-in, the Solver command is available in the Analysis group on the Data tab.
Define and solve a problem by using Solver
Important This feature isn’t available in Office on a Windows RT PC. Want to see what version of Office you're using?
Solver is a Microsoft Excel add-in program you can use for what-if analysis. Use Solver to find an optimal (maximum or minimum) value for a formula in one cell — called the objective cell — subject to constraints, or limits, on the values of other formula cells on a worksheet. Solver works with a group of cells, called decision variables or simply variable cells that are used in computing the formulas in the objective and constraint cells. Solver adjusts the values in the decision variable cells to satisfy the limits on constraint cells and produce the result you want for the objective cell.
Note Versions of Solver prior to Excel 2007 referred to the objective cell as the "target cell," and the decision variable cells as "changing cells" or "adjustable cells".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example of a Solver evaluation
Define and solve a problem
Step through Solver trial solutions
Change how Solver finds solutions
Save or load a problem model
Solving methods used by Solver
More help on using Solver
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example of a Solver evaluation
In the following example, the level of advertising in each quarter affects the number of units sold, indirectly determining the amount of sales revenue, the associated expenses, and the profit. Solver can change the quarterly budgets for advertising (decision variable cells B5:C5), up to a total budget constraint of $20,000 (cell F5), until the total profit (objective cell F7) reaches the maximum possible amount. The values in the variable cells are used to calculate the profit for each quarter, so they are related to the formula objective cell F7, =SUM (Q1 Profit:Q2 Profit).
Before Solver evaluation
Callout 1 Variable cells
Callout 2 Constrained cell
Callout 3 Objective cell
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Solver runs, the new values are as follows.
After Solver evaluation
Define and solve a problem
1.On the Data tab, in the Analysis group, click Solver.
Analysis group on the Data tab
If the Solver command or the Analysis group is not available, you need to activate the Solver add-in.
How to activate the Solver add-in
1.Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-Ins category.
2.In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go.
3.In the Add-ins available box, select the Solver Add-in check box, and then click OK.
2.In the Set Objective box, enter a cell reference or name for the objective cell. The objective cell must contain a formula.
3.Do one of the following:
If you want the value of the objective cell to be as large as possible, click Max.
If you want the value of the objective cell to be as small as possible, click Min.
If you want the objective cell to be a certain value, click Value of, and then type the value in the box.
4.In the By Changing Variable Cells box, enter a name or reference for each decision variable cell range. Separate the nonadjacent references with commas. The variable cells must be related directly or indirectly to the objective cell. You can specify up to 200 variable cells.
5.In the Subject to the Constraints box, enter any constraints that you want to apply by doing the following:
1.In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Add.
2.In the Cell Reference box, enter the cell reference or name of the cell range for which you want to constrain the value.
3.Click the relationship ( <=, =, >=, int, bin, or dif ) that you want between the referenced cell and the constraint.If you click int, integer appears in the Constraint box. If you click bin, binary appears in the Constraint box. If you click dif, alldifferent appears in the Constraint box.
4.If you choose <=, =, or >= for the relationship in the Constraint box, type a number, a cell reference or name, or a formula.
5.Do one of the following:
To accept the constraint and add another, click Add.
To accept the constraint and return to the Solver Parameters dialog box, click OK.
Note You can apply the int, bin, and dif relationships only in constraints on decision variable cells.
You can change or delete an existing constraint by doing the following:
In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click the constraint that you want to change or delete.
Click Change and then make your changes, or click Delete.
6.Click Solve and do one of the following:
To keep the solution values on the worksheet, in the Solver Results dialog box, click Keep Solver Solution.
To restore the original values before you clicked Solve, click Restore Original Values.
Notes
You can interrupt the solution process by pressing Esc. Excel recalculates the worksheet with the last values that are found for the decision variable cells.
To create a report that is based on your solution after Solver finds a solution, you can click a report type in the Reports box and then click OK. The report is created on a new worksheet in your workbook. If Solver doesn't find a solution, only certain reports or no reports are available.
To save your decision variable cell values as a scenario that you can display later, click Save Scenario in the Solver Results dialog box, and then type a name for the scenario in the Scenario Name box.
Step through Solver trial solutions
1.After you define a problem, click Options in the Solver Parameters dialog box.
2.In the Options dialog box, select the Show Iteration Results check box to see the values of each trial solution, and then click OK.
3.In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Solve.
4.In the Show Trial Solution dialog box, do one of the following:
To stop the solution process and display the Solver Results dialog box, click Stop.
To continue the solution process and display the next trial solution, click Continue.
Change how Solver finds solutions
1.In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Options.
2.Choose or enter values for any of the options on the All Methods, GRG Nonlinear, and Evolutionary tabs in the dialog box.
Save or load a problem model
1.In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Load/Save.
2.Enter a cell range for the model area, and click either Save or Load.
When you save a model, enter the reference for the first cell of a vertical range of empty cells in which you want to place the problem model. When you load a model, enter the reference for the entire range of cells that contains the problem model.
Tip You can save the last selections in the Solver Parameters dialog box with a worksheet by saving the workbook. Each worksheet in a workbook may have its own Solver selections, and all of them are saved. You can also define more than one problem for a worksheet by clicking Load/Save to save problems individually.
Solving methods used by Solver
You can choose any of the following three algorithms or solving methods in the Solver Parameters dialog box:
Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) Nonlinear Use for problems that are smooth nonlinear.
LP Simplex Use for problems that are linear.
Evolutionary Use for problems that are non-smooth.