I have Excel but I don't find Solver (Data Analysis) in the menus. What should I do?
I don't want to have the full directory name in a reference to another workbook.
The following directions should also apply to the Data Analysis Toolpak.
First use the menus in Excel and select Tools/Addins. You should see Solver as one of the add-ins in the list. Make sure Solver is checked. The next time you select Tools you should find Solver listed.
If you do not see Solver when you select Tools/Add-ins, you need to install Solver on your machine. Use your installation disk and run setup. Since you need to add Solver as an add-in to Excel, you will want to perform the following steps when Setup asks you what you want to do (These steps are accurate for working with Setup for Office95; they may be slightly different for other versions.)
Keep choosing OK until Setup asks you to load a disk or whatever it needs. Steps should be relatively clear after this.
Here's the story. It's easiest to explain in terms of the two files I've attached. The file summary.xls references source.xls, which are both in the same directory.
If I open summary.xls first and look at the reference, say in Cell C6, the reference will have the full directory path. I will see
='C:\Documents and Settings\Jane\My Documents\Teach\331\Examples\[source.xls]Sheet1'!$E$8
If I open source.xls first and then open summary.xls, the reference will not include the path, but of course it will include the file. Looking at it this way, I will see
=[source.xls]Sheet1!$E$8
Revised, April 26, 2004 , by Jane Hagstrom.