The formula in the objective cell must be directly or indirectly dependent on the variable cells.The objective cell must contain a formula.It uses the variable cells to produce the result you want in the objective cell. Solver works with variable cells to arrive at an objective, or target, subject to certain constraints. If you get a prompt that the Solver Add-In is not currently installed on your computer, click Yes to install it, then quit Excel and restart.If Solver Add-In is not listed in the Add-Ins available box, click the Browse command to find it.In the Add-Ins Available box, select the Solver Add-In check box.Click the Tools menu, and then click Excel Add-ins.The Solver command will now show up on the Data tab. Under Add-ins, select Solver Add-in and click on the Go button. If the Solver add-in is already activated, you’ll see it within the Analyze group of the Data tab.Ģ. Solver is an add-in that needs to be enabled within the application before you can start working with it.

Solver allows you to use up to 200 variable cells to find an optimal value for the objective cell, as opposed to Goal Seek’s one-variable-at-a-time limitation.Īdditionally, Solver’s “Constraints” parameter, adds to the tool’s sophistication, because you get to tell Excel what it is and is not allowed to do in solving for the optimal value. Its capabilities exceed those of Goal Seek, however. Excel Solver is similar to Goal Seek in that it works backward to achieve a numeric objective by changing variables.

Solver is an Excel solution used for What-if analysis.

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