In Excel for Windows, if you don't see the Solver command or the Analysis group on the Data tab, you need to load the Solver add-in. Click the File tab, click. OpenSolver currently has limited support for Excel 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.

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

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.

Solver Function In Excel

Manufacturing

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

Download Excel Solver For Mac

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.

Distribution and Networks

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.

Download Solver For Mac Excel 2008

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.

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.