Microsoft Excel Solver Table For Mac

Back in October we announced the release of Microsoft Office 2011 for the MAC and today I have a quick tip for the Excel 2011 ultra-geek groovyReaders out there.

You set up your Excel Solver model by using the Solver Parameters dialog box. You use the Set Objective box to specify the objective cell, and you use the To group to tell Excel Solver what you want from the objective cell: the maximum possible value; the minimum possible value; or a specific value. (Solver is bundled with Excel 2011). Solver for Microsoft Excel 2008 for Macintosh is available and you can download it, free, right now. It was our way of re-introducing ourselves to the Mac community.

Using microsoft excel on a mac More (or new) keyboard shortcutsWhen building Office 2016 for Mac, one of our key objectives was to make it as easy as possible to transition from using Office for Windows to using Office for Mac and back again. Windows users will rejoice that Windows key assignments like Ctrl+O for Open, Ctrl+F for Find and Ctrl+C for Copy now also work in the Mac version—no need to remember to press Cmd instead of Ctrl. That’s why you’ll notice an interface consistent with Office 2016 for Windows and why we added support for virtually all of the Windows Excel keyboard shortcuts.

For whatever reason, Excel 2011 for the MAC didn’t include the Solver utility. Odd I know but not a huge deal since Frontline Systems as of today has released Solver for Excel 2011 on their website at www.solver.com/mac/.

The new Solver for Excel 2011 has been enhanced over its predecessor (for Excel 2008 for MAC). Although mainly targeted at the ultra-geek excel buffs, Frontline Systems also recommends the product for those of us in the real world:

What are Solvers Good For?

Solvers, or optimizers, are software tools that help users find the best way to allocate scarce resources. The resources may be raw materials, machine time or people time, money, or anything else in limited supply. The 'best' or optimal solution may mean maximizing profits, minimizing costs, or achieving the best possible quality. An almost infinite variety of problems can be tackled this way, but here are some typical examples:

Finance and Investment

Microsoft excel solver table for mac free

Working capital management involves allocating cash to different purposes (accounts receivable, inventory, etc.) across multiple time periods, to maximize interest earnings.

Capital budgeting involves allocating funds to projects that initially consume cash but later generate cash, to maximize a firm’s return on capital.

Portfolio optimization — creating 'efficient portfolios' — involves allocating funds to stocks or bonds to maximize return for a given level of risk, or to minimize risk for a target rate of return.

Manufacturing

Job shop scheduling involves allocating time for work orders on different types of production equipment, to minimize delivery time or maximize equipment utilization.

Blending (of petroleum products, ores, animal feed, etc.) involves allocating and combining raw materials of different types and grades, to meet demand while minimizing costs.

Cutting stock (for lumber, paper, etc.) involves allocating space on large sheets or timbers to be cut into smaller pieces, to meet demand while minimizing waste.

Solver

Excel 2016 Solver

Distribution and Networks

Excel Solver Table 2007

Routing (of goods, natural gas, electricity, digital data, etc.) involves allocating something to different paths through which it can move to various destinations, to minimize costs or maximize throughput.

Loading (of trucks, rail cars, etc.) involves allocating space in vehicles to items of different sizes so as to minimize wasted or unused space.

Microsoft Excel Solver Table For Mac Pro

Scheduling of everything from workers to vehicles and meeting rooms involves allocating capacity to various tasks in order to meet demand while minimizing overall costs.

Microsoft Excel Solver Table For Mac Pro

The download is Free and the site even includes a nice step-by-step so have fun if you need help with the add-on.