We describe the design and use of the spreadsheet optimizer that is bundled with Microsoft Excel. We explain why we and Microsoft made certain choices in designing its user interface, model processing, and solution algorithms for linear, nonlinear and integer programs. We describe some of the common pitfalls encountered by users, and remedies available in the latest version of Microsoft Excel. ...

This paper describes how constraint solvers could serve as rule engines in the context of modern business decision management systems. Decision models are based on rule families oriented to business users and frequently represented as Excel decision tables. The proposed approach uses exactly the same representation of decision models as a rule engine. The developed Rule Solver loads a decision ...

This paper shows the capability of current spreadsheets to define, analyse and optimise models of systems and processes. Specifically, the Microsoft spreadsheet, Excel®, is used with its built-in solver, to analyse and to optimise systems and processes of medium complexity whose mathematical models are expressed by means of non-linear systems of equations. Two hydraulic and thermal engineering-...

Spreadsheet software, notably Microsoft Excel©, can be used very effectively for analyzing logistics and supply chain issues. Spreadsheet allow analysis from many different perspectives and can be modified and enhanced to reflect new situations and options. Our purpose in this article is to demonstrate the efficiency of a problemsolving algorithm that uses Microsoft Excel add-in tools Premium S...