How To Download Excel Solver For Mac
- How To Download Solver For Mac Excel
- Microsoft Excel Solver Add In
- How To Download Excel Solver For Mac Pro
- How To Download Excel Solver For Mac 2016
Solver Tool in Excel (Table of Contents). Solver in Excel; Where to find Solver in Excel? How to Use the Solver tool in Excel? Solver in Excel. Solver tool in excel is quite a useful tool for those who are into the analysis domain which is used for operations research to find the optimum solution for any kind of decision problem. OpenSolver for Mac: OpenSolver currently has limited support for Excel 2016 for Mac. Version 2.8.3 of OpenSolver includes initial support for Excel 2016 for Mac, and supports model creation and modification, as well as solving with the CBC and Gurobi solvers. Make sure your version of Excel 2016 is at least 15.28 for this to work. Excel includes a tool called solver that uses techniques from the operations research to find optimal solutions for all kind of decision problems. Load the Solver Add-in To load the solver.
Free Downloads
If Solver Add-in is not listed in the Add-Ins available box, click Browse to locate the add-in. If you get a prompt that the Solver add-in is not currently installed on your computer, click Yes in the dialog box to install it. After you load the Solver add-in, the Solver button is available on the Data tab. But if you absolutely cannot do this, you can download Solver for Excel 2008 here. Why Doesn't Analytic Solver Desktop Work with Excel for Mac OSX? Excel for Mac OSX may be called 'Excel' and load and save Excel workbooks, but internally it is a radically different piece of software from Excel for Windows, since it uses OSX standards and APIs. Mac users with Excel may want add-on applications for more functionality. Solver for Excel 2011 for Mac integrates well into the existing Excel program and performs additional operations on. Solver and Data Analysis Add-ins for Excel for Mac 2016; Installing SPSS v21 on Windows for MSc Students; Installing SPSS v21 on Mac OS X for MSc Students; Allowing Ivey E-mails through UWO Spam Trap; Solver and Data Analysis Add-ins for Excel for Mac 2016.
Watch this page for free downloads as they become available.
·DADM_Tools add-in: For various reasons, some users of our DADM and PMS books prefer not to use the Palisade add-ins discussed in these books. To provide another alternative, I created my own add-in called DADM_Tools that provides much of the basic functionality of the Palisade software. This add-in, written in Excel’s VBA language, is not used in the books but it is available here for free. Because it is totally free, no support is available. However, it is very easy to use, and it is compatible with Excel for Windows and Excel for Mac. Here is a link to instructions: DADM_Tools Help.docx. Here is a link to the add-in: DADM_Tools.xlam.
·Random Functions Add-Ins: The DADM_Tools add-in mentioned in the previous bullet includes, among other things, a simulation program. For technical reasons, the custom functions I developed to generate random numbers from various probability distributions are not included in the DADM_Tools add-in.
oFor Windows users, the random functions are contained in a special type of add-in (an XLL that works only with Excel for Windows 2010 or higher). First read the following: RandGen Add-In.docx (updated 1/24/2019). Then install the add-in by running the Setup file in: RandGenSetup.zip.
oFor Mac users, the random functions are in the following add-in: Random Functions for the Mac.xlam.
·Excel tutorial: Here is the free version of my Excel tutorial: Excel Tutorial for Windows.xlsx. (It provides information for upgrading to a more complete version called ExcelNow!.) You can also download a version of the tutorial for the Mac: Excel Tutorial for the Mac.xlsx. By comparing these, you can see which features in Excel for Windows are not included in Excel for the Mac.
·Analysis ToolPak Guide: This is a supplement to our books for those of you who would like to use Excel’s built-in Analysis ToolPak add-in, rather than StatTools, for statistical analysis. The zip file contains a pdf version of the guide and accompanying data files: Analysis ToolPak Guide.zip
·SolverTable Add-in: Each version below has a corresponding Help file (a Word file) that you should read before contacting me about problems. Each zip file below contains only two files: the .xla or .xlam add-in file and the Word help file. You should unzip both to the same folder (any folder of your choice) and then read the help file for more instructions. The next two bullets address some possible problems users have had.
oSolverTable fix: For those of you who have problems with SolverTable, here are instructions for a possible fix: Fixing SolverTable.docx.
oMissing Solver Reference: Here is another possible fix for SolverTable: Missing Solver Reference.docx
oSolverTable tip for international users: A user from outside the US discovered why his SolverTable wasn’t working. The problem was in the numerical settings (decimal symbols and list separators), and the fix was to change these in Windows settings. I’m not sure how common this problem might be, but if you’re outside the US and your SolverTable isn’t working, this is worth a try.
oA strange SolverTable problem: Reynold Byers and his students at Arizona State discovered that in a straightforward integer-constrained model, SolverTable gave slightly suboptimal solutions. I originally thought this had to do with the Integer Optimality setting, but that wasn’t it. They found that the decimal input being varied, something like from 0 to 0.6 in increments of 0.1, was not being set to exactly 0.4, say, but instead to something like 0.400025 – a slight roundoff – and this was enough to cause the suboptimal solutions. Great detective work on their part, but I’m not sure how to fix the problem. Anyway, be aware!
oFor Solver that ships with Excel 2019 or Office 365: There is no “new” SolverTable add-in for either of these. As far as I’m aware, SolverTable for Excel 2016 should work fine with either of these. I’m currently using it with Office 365 and haven’t run into any problems.
oFor Solver that ships with Excel 2016: SolverTable 2016.zip
¨This version is basically the same as the 2013 version.
oFor Solver that ships with Excel 2013: SolverTable 2013.zip, SolverTable.xlam
¨This version wasn’t created because SolverTable 2010 wouldn’t work with Excel 2013. Rather, I made some technical changes in the software. Probably the main change is that this version now starts each Solver run from the original solution in the decision variable cells. (In previous versions, it started each Solver run from the previous Solver solution.)
¨Modified on 10/5/2015 to open the Help file in a simpler manner (less possibility of an error occurring).
oFor Solver that ships with Excel 2010:SolverTable 2010.zip
¨Modified on 10/5/2015 to open the Help file in a simpler manner (less possibility of an error occurring).
¨Modified on 4/26/2012 to fix a problem with long worksheet names. Basically, Excel allows worksheet names to be no longer than 31 characters. SolverTable creates a hidden sheet with its settings, and the name of the sheet is the model sheet name plus the suffix “_STS”. So if the name of your model sheet has from 28 to 31 characters, this would create an error. SolverTable now warns you before the error occurs.
¨Modified on 12/5/2011 to fix a potential sheet-naming problem.
¨Modified on 11/8/2011 to fix a potential problem where a user mistakenly selects the Simplex LP method on a nonlinear model. The previous code could get into an infinite loop in this case. A similar fix was made (see below) to the 2007 and 2003 versions. However, this 2010 version might not work correctly in 2007 or 2003 because of a subtle code change Frontline Systems made in its 2010 version of Solver.
¨Modified on 10/7/2010 to fix a bug that occurred when a user mistakenly ran SolverTable from an STS sheet (not a model sheet)
¨Modified on 9/24/2010 to make it compatible with the GRG Nonlinear Multistart option
¨Modified on 9/3/2010 to be compatible with 64-bit Office 2010.
oFor Solver that ships with Excel 2007:SolverTable 2007.zip
¨Modified on 4/26/2012 – see point 2 above for the 2010 version
¨Modified on 12/5/2011 – see point 3 above for the 2010 version
¨Modified on 11/8/2011 – see point 4 above for the 2010 version
¨Modified on 10/7/2010 to fix a bug that occurred when a user mistakenly ran SolverTable from an STS sheet (not a model sheet)
oAn interesting use of SolverTable: One way to use SolverTable is to let the Input cell(s) (for a one-way or two-way table) be the initial value(s) of decision variable cell(s). For a linear model, the only point in doing this would be to check that Solver indeed gets to the optimal solution regardless of the initial values. For a nonlinear model, this could be used to check whether there are local optima that Solver might get to, depending on the initial values it starts from. For example, for problem 7.48 of PMS 3e, which has exactly two decision variable cells, it is easy to show that Solver gets to the global optimum only for some initial values of the decision variable cells. (Thanks to Tom Schriber for this suggestion.)
·StatPro and StatBasics Add-Ins
oStatPro for Excel 2007 and later: Although I no longer support StatPro, I tinker with it from time to time, and this version is the result: StatPro New.zip. It doesn’t have all of the options from the original StatPro (stepwise regression is missing, e.g.), but it has some new features and a slightly different interface. It is contained in a single .xla file, and it does work with Excel 2007 and later versions. To load it, just double-click the .xla file.
oStatPro for the Mac: Some of you have requested a version of StatPro for the Mac, that is, for the Mac version of Excel. This was originally impossible because Excel 2008 didn’t even have VBA, the programming language. That changed in Excel 2011, but the VBA interface is quite different from the one in Excel for Windows. Anyway, I gave it a shot, and you can try out this version: StatPro for Mac.zip. However, you’re completely on your own; I provide no support for this version.
oStatBasics for Excel 2007: StatBasics for Excel 2007.zip. This is a mini version of StatPro I created (mostly to sharpen my programming skills). It provides only the basics: summary measures and useful statistical charts. Installation instructions are in the zip file. Try it out, but keep in mind that I do not provide support for it.
- NCAA March Madness simulation: Here is the simulation for 2019: March Madness 2019 with Data Table.xlsx. Also, here is a version that calculates the probability of a perfect bracket, i.e., successfully predicting the winner of each game: March Madness Probabilities 2013.xlsx. (I didn’t update this file after 2013, but you can if you like. The probability of picking all winners will still be infinitesimally small.)
- Transient queueing analysis: Transient Queue.xlsm Did you know that you can analyze queues with time-varying behavior (e.g., arrival rates that increase during peak periods of the day) with spreadsheets, using analytical approximations, not simulation or steady-state analysis? This is indeed possible, as Wayne Winston has pointed out in the 4th edition of his Operations Research book. Although Wayne's approach is to use Excel formulas, this file uses a VBA program to perform the calculations. Enjoy!
- Automating Sudoku with VBA: Sudoku.xlsm (or Sudoku16.xlsm) If you love the laborious effort of working Sudoku puzzles—the pencil marks, the erasing, etc.—then you should not open these files. But if you want to see how powerful VBA programs can be, check it out the Sudoku.xlsm file. (You can check out the VBA code to see how it works.) And if you want to go a step farther, with 16x16 grids instead of the usual 9x9 grids, check out the Sudoku16.xlsm file. (Note: I changed these files slightly in April 2016. Specifically, the Sudoku.xlsm file now has an Algorithm sheet that walks you through the algorithm implemented in the VBA code. The VBA code is a bit hard to follow – a lot of nested loops – but the algorithm itself is quite straightforward.)
Visit the Cengagesite for our books.
Send e-mail to albright@indiana.edu
Albright and Winston are both retired from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Back to home page
Updated: 10/8/2019
Analytic Solver Cloudwill work with Excel for Mac, but an Office 365 subscription is required.
Learn Why. If you are using a Mac, your best option is Analytic Solver Cloud. If you can't get an Office 365 subscription, you still have options:
Using AnalyticSolver.com • Using Windows on a Mac • Using Solver under Mac OSX
Using AnalyticSolver.com
An Office 365 subscription is better -- but if for some reason you can't get or use one, your simplest option is to open Chrome (recommended) or another web browser to AnalyticSolver.com, our cloud-based analytics platform. If you're a student, AnalyticSolver.com is designed to enable you to complete all of your class exercises, and even use a textbook that has screen shots and instructions using our software in Excel for Windows, on your Mac. It has essentially all the features, and the same user interface as Analytic Solver Cloud and Desktop, with a Ribbon that has the same tabs and icons, and a Task Pane on right with the same tabs and most of the same options. It offers a spreadsheet-like grid that works much like Excel, and you can open Excel workbooks (with extension .xlsx) and save models to Excel workbooks.
If you registered on Solver.com after August 15, 2016, you already have an account on AnalyticSolver.com -- just click the Login button at the top right, and enter the same email address and password you used to register on Solver.com. If you cannot login this way, just register at www.solver.com/student or analyticsolver.com/student (registering again won't hurt). Registering on either site gives you an account on both sites. This assumes that your instructor has given you a Textbook Code and Course Code to register -- if he/she hasn't done this, ask him/her to call us at 775-831-0300 x141 and speak to our Academic Liason.
Two strong hints: (i) READ THE HELP on differences between Excel and the AnalyticSolver.com spreadsheet, and other minor differences in the analytics software, at AnalyticSolver.com/Home/About. (ii) If you already registered without a Textbook Code and Course Code, your license may expire on AnalyticSolver.com. To remedy this, get the Textbook Code and Course Code from your instructor, go to AnalyticSolver.com, click the Login button to login, then type https://analyticsolver.com/student in the browser address bar. This displays a short form where you can add your Graduation Date, Textbook Code and Course Code and click the Register button.
Using Microsoft Office for Windows on a Mac
How To Download Solver For Mac Excel
Another good option for using our software on a Mac is to install Microsoft Windows, either in a dual-boot setup on your hard disk, or running under VM (virtual machine) software such as VMWare Fusion or Parallels. This is recommended for students who for some reason cannot use an Office 365 subscription -- it is the only way to use Analytic Solver Desktop for Windows on a Mac desktop or laptop, since this software won't run directly under Mac OSX. (But an Office 365 subscription and Analytic Solver Cloud is better!)
Any of Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 is sufficient. Once Windows is installed, you can install Microsoft Office (or just Excel) 2019, 2016, 2013, or 2010. You can then download and run any of our Setup.exe programs to install our software. Used this way, a Mac or MacBook makes an excellent computer for Frontline Solvers -- we often run our software on MacBooks in this way at our company.
Using Solver under Mac OSX
Microsoft Excel Solver Add In
You can use the Solver included in Excel for Mac to define and solve basic optimization problems. But you won't be able to use Monte Carlo simulation and risk analysis, solve optimization problems involving uncertainty and risk, or use the forecasting, data mining or text mining features of Analytic Solver Cloud, Analytic Solver Desktop or AnalyticSolver.com. You can define a basic optimization model using Solver in Excel for Mac, save the workbook, open that workbook in AnalyticSolver.com, and solve it there and extend it further.
The basic Excel Solver is included when you install Microsoft Excel 2011 or later for Mac. This has been true since Excel 2011 Service Pack 1 (Version 14.1.0). You do not have to (and should not try to) download Solver from this website. If you are still using Excel 2008 for Mac, we strongly recommend an upgrade to Excel 2011 or later. But if you absolutely cannot do this, you can download Solver for Excel 2008 here.
Why Doesn't Analytic Solver Desktop Work with Excel for Mac OSX?
How To Download Excel Solver For Mac Pro
Excel for Mac OSX may be called 'Excel' and load and save Excel workbooks, but internally it is a radically different piece of software from Excel for Windows, since it uses OSX standards and APIs, rather than Windows standards and APIs. None of the internal interfaces (connections) to Excel that Analytic Solver Desktop uses in Windows exist in Excel for Mac. Essentially, 'Analytic Solver Desktop for Mac' would be a new piece of software that would cost a lot to develop, and (based on our real-world experience) would have almost no commercial market. In any case, the software industry has moved on to embrace Web technologies (HTML, JavaScript and REST APIs).
How To Download Excel Solver For Mac 2016
We first developed AnalyticSolver.com, which all Mac users, iPad users, Android and even Windows users could use equally well. It has served the market for several years. Its main drawback is that its underlying spreadsheet is 'not true Excel', and is less familiar and less powerful than Microsoft's latest version of Excel Online. But now we've done better: Over several years culminating in 2019 -- once Microsoft released 'Office.js JavaScript APIs' that we could use -- we developed Analytic Solver Cloud using Web technologies. It works in Excel Online, and also works in Excel for Mac