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The programs described in this site, must be installed as add-ins
for Microsoft Excel. This article explains how to install add-ins
and what to do in case of trouble. We also show how to get access
to the source code. |
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The Demonstration Add-in provides demonstrations for the add-ins
in the collection. |
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This add-in places the item Add ORMM on the OR_MM menu. Selecting
this item presents a dialog box that allows easy installation
and removal of the other add-ins in the collection. A second dialog
easily loads demonstration workbooks. |
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This is an Excel workbook, not an add-in, that includes macros
and functions that have general value to a person who is interested
in programming in VBA. |
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Teaching Add-ins |
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These add-ins are described in the methods section. Links to the
descriptions are in the list below.
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The
Mathematical Programming Add-in constructs optimization models
of several kinds:
The models can be solved using the Solver
Add-in or one of the solution add-ins provided in this collection.
The Solver Add-in comes with Excel, and it can solve linear
programming, integer programming and nonlinear programming
models. Additional add-ins are available in this package to
solve linear programming, integer programming, network programming
and transportation models.
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This add-in provides an algorithm that solves Linear Programming
or Integer Programming problems. It can be used instead of the
Excel solver for linear models created by the Mathematical Programming
add-in. When the LP/IP Solver add-in is installed a new item now
appears in the OR_MM menu, LP_Solver. Clicking on this item presents
a form allowing the selection three options: show a sensitivity
analysis, show detailed information about the steps primal simplex
procedure, and start the solution using the current solution value.
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A network solution algorithm is provided by this add-in. The Excel
Solver actually solves network problems by solving the underlying
linear programming problem. Network algorithms are generally faster
than linear programming algorithms for solving problems that can
be modeled entirely as networks. The add-in places a Network Solver
item on the OR_MM menu. In addition to pure network models, the
add-in can solve generalized networks when arc gains are different
than 1. It can also solve models that require flows to be integer.
Clicking this item presents a dialog with which a number of solution
algorithm options are controlled. |
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Many Excel worksheet models depend on a few design variables.
Through formulas, the worksheet contents vary with the values
of the design variables and the modeler uses the worksheet as
a "what if" tool. It is often the goal to find the best
values. This add-in provides algorithms that search for the best
among a perhaps large set of discrete alternatives. In addition
to stand-alone forms that can be used for general optimization
on a worksheet, the add-in provides solutions to combinatorial
problems encountered in operations research studies. The problems
include mixed integer programming, the traveling salesman problem,
the assignment problem, spanning tree problems, optimum path problems
in networks and flow-tree problems. |
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This add-in creates combinatorial models that use the search methods
of the Optimize add-in. The add-in provides a model for
the Quadratic Assignment problem, the Minimal Spanning
Tree problem and the Shortest Path Tree problem.
Other models may be added in the future. The Optimize
add-in must be installed for the Combinatorics add-in
to work. |
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This add-in performs operations on a function of continuous variables.
The function may depend on many variables and be constructed of
arbitrary combinations of Excel functions. The function will usually
be continuous and differentiable. The add-in uses numerical methods
to compute the gradient and Hessian matrices (matrixes of first
and second partial derivatives). It also computes integrals and
moments. The add-in uses a gradient search method to find values
of the variables that maximize or minimize the function. |
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The Random
Variables Add-in performs computations associated
with probability distributions. Random variables with any of 16
different named distributions may be defined. Functions compute
probabilities of events, inverse probabilities and moments. Up
to three distributions may be plotted. Complex probability problems
may be solved through Monte-Carlo simulation. |
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The Queuing
Add-in performs calculations associated with Poisson queuing models,
Non Poisson models and networks of queues. It also performs simulations
of multi-channel queuing models. |
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This add-in
builds models for Markovian stochastic processes. The models
are symbolic in that formulas are entered for transitions, transition
rates, transition probabilities and other relevant components
of a stochastic process model. The Markov Chain or Markov Process
model is constructed automatically. To analyze the models use
the Stochastic Analysis add-in described below. |
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This add-in performs computations for discrete time or continuous
time Markovian stochastic processes. The data defining a Markov
Chain model are the probabilities in the transition matrix, and
the data defining a Markov Process are the activity rates in the
rate matrix. The add-in performs the following analyses: steady
state probabilities, n-step probabilities, first passage probabilities
and expected values, transient probabilities, simulation and absorbing
state probabilities. Economic data allows the performance of economic
analyses. |
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Consider a situation in which a series of decisions are to made
sequentially. The problem is complicated however in that the results
of some of the decisions are not deterministic, rather they are
affected by risk. The goal is to make a series of decisions in
order to maximize the expected return. Models and solution methods
for this type of problem are the subjects of decision analysis.
The add-in provides extensive programs to build, solve and display
decision trees. |
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This add-in creates multiline simulations useful for analyzing
a variety of systems that don't fit the model types handled by
the other add-ins. The add-in builds and maintains worksheets
on which simulations are easily built. Packaged models for time
series simulation and inventory simulation are included. |
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This workbook tracks and forecasts hurricanes in the Gulf
of Mexico region. The download is an Excel workbook rather than
an add-in, and it contains both sample data and the macros necessary
to add new hurricanes, add position data as provided by the National
Hurricane Center, make forecasts of future movement, plot data
and forecasts on a map and construct an error analysis after the
storm is over. |
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Excel add-ins for several topics related to Operations Management
and Industrial Engineering are described in the OM/IE section
of this site.
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