Microsoft Excel Add-Ins

Forecasting with regression requires the Excel add-in called "Analysis ToolPak," and linear programming requires the Excel add-in called "Solver."  How you check to see if these are activated on your computer, and how to activate them if they are not active, varies with Excel version.  Here are instructions for the most common versions.  If Excel will not let you activate Data Analysis and Solver, you must use a different computer.  Computers in the SFA Library and the McGee Computer Lab should be OK:

Excel 2002/2003:
Start Excel, then click Tools and look for Data Analysis and for Solver.  If both are there, press Esc (escape) and continue with the respective assignment.  Otherwise click Tools, Add-Ins, and check the boxes for Analysis ToolPak and for Solver, then click OK.  Click Tools again, and both tools should be there.

Excel 2007:
Start Excel 2007 and click the Data tab at the top.  Look to see if Data Analysis and Solver show in the Analysis section at the far right.  If both are there, continue with the respective assignment.  Otherwise, do the following steps exactly as indicated:
-click the “Office Button” at top left
-click the Excel Options button near the bottom of the resulting window
-click the Add-ins button on the left of the next screen
-near the bottom at Manage Excel Add-ins, click Go
-check the boxes for Analysis ToolPak and Solver Add-in if they are not already checked, then click OK
-click the Data tab as above and verify that the add-ins show.

Excel 2010:
Start Excel 2010 and click the Data tab at the top.  Look to see if Data Analysis and Solver show in the Analysis section at the far right.  If both are there, continue with the respective assignment.  Otherwise, do the following steps exactly as indicated:
-click the File tab at top left
-click the Options button near the bottom of the left side
-click the Add-ins button near the bottom left of the next screen
-near the bottom at Manage Excel Add-ins, click Go
-check the boxes for Analysis ToolPak and Solver Add-in if they are not already checked, then click OK
-click the Data tab as above and verify that the add-ins show.

Send comments and corrections concerning this page to:
wfisher@sfasu.edu
Last updated September 26, 2011