Better than Solver?
Posted by Matt Evans on October 25, 2001 8:28 PM
I have a worksheet containing a model that I'm happy with. However, I'd like to be able to use another worksheet to play around with some of the inputs and see how it falls through the model. I've tried solver, and it seems too rigid for what I'm trying to do. Practically speaking, what I'm thinking of is I'd like to enter a number(s) into a certain cell(s) on the "scenario page", have that be "pasted" into my inputs on the model page so it is run through the model, and then the values from the output cells I select appear in the scenario page - yet leaving the orginal model undisturbed.
Is there a better way to do this other than copying the whole model for each scenario? Thanks
Posted by Don C on October 26, 2001 4:41 AM
If you don't do a save, then you can make all the changes you want and the original file will contain your original model.
When you open a file, you are getting a COPY of the file. You can make changes to it, trying out lots of different data, and then close the worksheet. So long as you don't save the changes, the original copy is there on your hard drive just as it was.
Posted by Mark W. on October 26, 2001 6:01 AM
Solver allows you to save and load individual
models. See the Excel Help Index topics for
"Save adjustable cell values in Solver as a
scenario" and "About the Save Model and Load
Model dialog boxes".
Posted by Matt Evans on October 26, 2001 8:17 AM
Thanks for the responses. But I guess I wasn't specific enough - the reason I can't just open the file but not save is that I need to lay out a couple of scenarios and be able to save them - and not affect the "base" model and its inputs. On the scenario page I'd just like to have the inputs (which are two blocks of cells, about 11rows x 8 columns, any of which may be adjusted) and the outputs that result (a couples of rows x 8 columns) - for each scenario.
And as far as I can tell, using solver can only solve for max, min, or certain values - but I want to see what a result is given certain inputs, not have excel adjust the inputs for a certain output.
Posted by Mark W. on October 26, 2001 10:28 AM
Matt, you might want to review Frontline Systems'
(they created Solver) tutorial on optimization.
See...
http://www.solver.com/tutorial.htm
