is survival analysis a DIY project?

[cubbie]

I've learned a lot from this board, but this is my first time posting.

I need to develop an Excel spreadsheet for survival analysis for use by state government employees, and I'm trying to figure out if I can do this myself, without purchasing an Excel add-in. Or does anyone know of any free add-ins, or Excel examples on the web?

I know that such add-ins exist, I'm just concerned about what it would cost to buy a license that would allow me to distribute the spreadsheet for use by many other people. Or would the fact that the users would be state government employees mean the license fees would likely be small or nonexistent? I'm doing the development work on a Federal government contract, by the way, if that matters.

I think I'm good enough with statistics and Excel that with a few textbooks and examples for guidance, I could figure out how to set up a spreadsheet to do survival analysis. I've done survival analysis before using SAS, and I have access to books on survival analysis.

I worry though that I might waste a lot of time on that to discover that someone else had already done the same and posted on the web for others to use. Or I might find out that it's really too much to try to do myself without a purchased add-in.

Does anyone have any advice on what would be the most efficient approach? And, does anyone have any experience with and opinion of the various add-ins for sale for survival analysis?

 

[Mr_Stability]

this may be a start

Have a look at this link
http://members.aol.com/johnp71/prophaz.html

I think the Excel Solver may be useful, but its limited regarding the number of decision variables it can handle.

You may want to look at Frontline Systems
http://www.solver.com

They wrote the excel solver, and can supply several much more powerful versions.

their site includes a tutorial on the Solver, and you can get several good examples of its use from

www.ozgrid.com

HTH