Installing and Troubleshooting the Microsoft  Excel Add-ins
Solver Table, Sensit, Treeplan, Risksim and PHSTAT2
for Excel 2003, 2007, 2010 in
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7

last updated: Monday November 08, 2010

Pre-Installation Notes Excel 2003 Add-ins Excel 2007 / 2010 Add-Ins
Installation Troubleshooting Tips Who to Contact for Help Installing PHSTAT2
 
Before installing the add-ins, please carefully read the entire section below. You may need to make some changes before installing the add-ins.
 
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS:
  • Our experience has shown us that the Microsoft Excel Add-Ins have had the fewest installation and functional problems when using Excel 2003 or 2007. If you have Excel 2002 or lower, upgrade to Excel 2003 or higher.
  • The Excel 2003 Excel add-ins work best with Microsoft Excel 2003. The same applies with the Excel 2007 add-ins - use them with Excel 2007. The add-ins appear to work sporadically (if at all) with older Excel versions (like Excel 2002/XP or Excel 2000).
  • If purchasing the entire Microsoft Office Suite is cost prohibitive, remember that an Excel upgrade can be done without having to upgrade your entire Office Suite (Word, Powerpoint, etc.) – unless of course, you would like to upgrade the entire suite. The Excel upgrade software can be purchased separately from the Office upgrade software.
  • The Excel 2007 Add-Ins should work with Excel 2010. So far, no issues have been reported - but as we all know, not every computer behaves the same!
  • If you already have Office/Excel 2003 or 2007, wait until your Quantitative Analysis course is over before upgrading to Office 2010: - there is no need to introduce possible problems to your computer when using the add-ins!
  • Windows Vista Users: it is strongly recommended that you first try to use the CD ROM that is supplied with your textbook to install the Add-Ins to your Office Suite. The instructions are on the CD ROM. If you experience difficulty with installation with the CD ROM, then download the add-ins from this page - click here to jump to that section on this page.
 

SPECIAL OFFICE 2003 NOTE: PRE-INSTALLATION ITEMS INDICATED WITH ASTERISKS (***) BELOW MUST BE DONE BEFORE INSTALLING THE ADD-INS!

 
  • We have separate downloads for the Excel 2003 add-ins and for the Excel 2007 add-ins. NOTE: if you have Windows XP and Excel 2007, use the Excel 2007 add-ins. If you have Windows Vista and Excel 2003, Use the Excel 2003 add-ins.
    • Click here to jump to the Excel 2003 add-ins area.
    • Click here to jump to the Excel 2007 add-ins area.
       
  • *** If you are using Office (or Excel) 2003, BEFORE INSTALLING THE ADD-INS, you must have the Office (or Excel) 2003 Service Pack 2 or higher update/patch also installed: ***
     
    • Office / Excel 2003 users who have the Office update called "Service Pack 1" installed on their computers will experience a problem after installing Solver Table,  where Excel crashes upon opening. The way you check to see which Service Pack you have is to open Excel, click on the Help tab, and then click on "About Microsoft Excel." If the version is showing "SP1" in the version, then in all probability, Solver Table will cause Excel to crash upon opening.

      To fix, you can then click Help again and then click "Check for Updates" in order to download the latest Service Packs for Excel (or the entire Office suite). You should do this over a wired (and not a wireless) Internet connection, since the Service Packs (which include Service Pack 2 and then Service Pack 3) are large updates. You should also keep in mind that you may need your Excel or Office 2003 CD ROM in hand, as sometimes these updates require the installation CD.

      Once the updates / Service Packs have been applied (and most probably after having been directed to restart your computer), you should be able to install the Solver Table Add-In without a problem and without a further Excel 2003 crash!

      Click here for more details on updating to Service Pack 2 or higher.
       
  • *** Make sure that Macros are enabled in Excel (version 2003 or 2007) on your computer! *** Sometimes your antivirus software or other security protection software will disable your Macros in Excel or Word (as sometimes macros - which are little programs that run inside and application - can contain viruses). Since these Excel Add-Ins are Macros, you would need to reset your Excel or Word to Enable Macros. This can be done by clicking on Tools, then Macros, then Macro Security - and set the Security Level to Medium or Low. Also, if when you download the Add-Ins, you receive a message asking you to "enable your macros," click Yes - this will allow the macros to operate in Excel.
     
  • *** Finally, before installing the Add-Ins, make sure the Solver Add-In (which is an add-in that is already included in Microsoft Excel) is turned on in Excel (version 2003 or 2007) BEFORE INSTALLING THE ADD-INS.  *** This will ensure that the Solver Table Add-in works properly when you install and use it. It normally is enabled by default - but in case it is not:
    • To turn on Solver for Excel 2003:
      • Open Excel and make sure a blank spread sheet is showing (if it is not, start a new spread sheet)
      • Click on "Tools" at the top of the window
      • From the "Tools" drop-down menu, click on "Add-Ins"
      • From the "Add-Ins" menu, check the box for Solver (if it is not already checked), and then click OK
      • Close Excel to prepare to install the Solver Table and other Add-ins.
    • To turn on Solver for Excel 2007:
      • Open Excel and make sure a blank spread sheet is showing (if it is not, start a new spread sheet)
      • Click on the Office button in the top left-hand corner, and then click "Excel Options" at the bottom of that small window
      • Click Add-Ins in the left-hand column, and then (at the bottom of the screen), make sure "Excel Add-Ins is showing on the Manage pull-down menu, then click "Go."
      • Make sure the "Solver Add-in" is checked. If not, check it and then click OK.
      • Close Excel to prepare to install the Solver Table and other Add-ins.

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Excel 2003 Add-Ins - Installation Instructions, Tutorial Documentation, and Downloadable Add-In Files:
Right-click on the links below and then choose "Save Target As..." to save the files to your local computer.
NOTE: These are the instructions and downloads for Excel 2003 - NOT Excel 2007! Click here to jump to the Excel 2007 instructions and downloads.
 
  • Solver Table - Readme file PDF (can be downloaded to a place of your choice on your computer)

  • Solver Table - Excel Tutorial file (to be used after installing the Solver Table add-in - see add-in below. Can be downloaded to a place of your choice on your computer)

  • Solver Table - [MS Word] Instructions on using Solver Table with the Excel Tutorial file (can be downloaded to a place of your choice on your computer)

  • Solver Table Add-In - this file must be downloaded to the same folder that "solver.xla" is located, and that is normally the C:\Program Files\MS Office\Office11\Library\Solver folder. Note: the "Office11" subfolder is for Excel 2003 - if you are using Excel 2002/XP you may see an "Office10" subfolder - use that folder. If you see both, go to the "Office11" folder. NOTE: If you are having a hard time finding the solver.xla file, then use the Windows Search tool to find the file on your computer.
     

  • Treeplan Decision Trees - Readme file PDF (can be downloaded to a place of your choice on your computer)

  • Treeplan - Excel Tutorial file (to be used after installing the Treeplan add-in - see add-in below. (Can be downloaded to a place of your choice on your computer)

  • Treeplan Add-In - this file must be downloaded to the C:\Program Files\MS Office\Office11\Library folder. Note: the "Office11" subfolder is for Excel 2003 - if you are using Excel 2002/XP you may see an "Office10" subfolder - use that folder. If you see both, go to the "Office11" folder.
     

  • Sensit Analysis - Readme file PDF (can be downloaded to a place of your choice on your computer)

  • Sensit - Excel Tutorial file (to be used after installing the Sensit add-in - see add-in below. Can be downloaded to a place of your choice on your computer)

  • Sensit Add-In - this file must be downloaded to the C:\Program Files\MS Office\Office11\Library folder. Note: the "Office11" subfolder is for Excel 2003 - if you are using Excel 2002/XP you may see an "Office10" subfolder - use that folder. If you see both, go to the "Office11" folder.
     

  • Risksim - Readme file PDF (can be downloaded to a place of your choice on your computer)

  • Risksim - Excel Tutorial file (to be used after installing the Risksim add-in - see add-in below. Can be downloaded to a place of your choice on your computer)

  • Risksim Add-In - this file must be downloaded to the C:\Program Files\MS Office\Office11\Library folder. Note: the "Office11" subfolder is for Excel 2003 - if you are using Excel 2002/XP you may see an "Office10" subfolder - use that folder. If you see both, go to the "Office11" folder.

The above files (marked in red) are the actual Add-In files. Once you have download these to the above indicated folder, follow these directions to activate them:

  • Open Excel and make sure a blank spread sheet is showing (if it is not, start a new spread sheet), then click on the "Tools" tab
  • Click on "Add-Ins"
  • Make sure the Solver Table, Risksim, Treeplan and Senssit add-ins are checked. If not, check it and then click OK
  • Close Excel and then restart it again.

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Excel 2007 Add-Ins - Installation Instructions, Tutorial Documentation, and Downloadable Add-In Files:
Right-click on the links below and then choose "Save Target As..." to save the files to your local computer.
NOTE: These are the instructions for Excel 2007 - NOT Excel 2003! Note also that the 2007 add-ins should work with Excel 2010.
Click here to jump to the Excel 2003 instructions.
 

The above files (marked in red) are the actual Add-In files. Once you have download these to the above indicated folder, follow these directions to activate them:

  • Open Excel and make sure a blank spread sheet is showing (if it is not, start a new spread sheet)
  • Click on the Office button in the top left-hand corner, and then click "Excel Options" at the bottom of that small window
  • Click Add-Ins in the left-hand column, and then (at the bottom of the screen), make sure "Excel Add-Ins is showing on the Manage pull-down menu, then click "Go"
  • Make sure the Solver Table, Risksim, Treeplan and Sensit add-ins are checked. If not, check it and then click OK
  • Close Excel and then restart it again.

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If you are experiencing technical issues, error messages or other problems after trying to install Solver Table:
Please read through the following tips and troubleshooting steps, which include steps for resolving issues with older versions of Excel. EXCEL 2003 USERS REMEMBER: you will experience fewer issues if you have Excel 2003, Service Pack 2 or higher installed on your computer.
 
For Excel 2003 users who are having trouble with Solver Table:
  • Make sure you followed the pre-installation guidelines shown at the top of this page. If you have followed these guidelines and are still having trouble with Solver Table:
  • Open Excel, then click on Tools, then Add-Ins, and uncheck Solver Table. Close Excel.
  • Using My Computer or Windows Explorer, locate C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 11\Library - or search for the location of "Solver_Table.xla") and delete the file from your computer.
  • Restart the computer.
  • Download the Solver Table file (see above) to your computer.
    • VERY IMPORTANT: when you click the file to download, make sure that you SAVE the file to the EXACT SAME LOCATION AS YOUR SOLVER.XLA FILE, which is normally the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 11\Library\Solver folder.
    • Go back into Excel, then go to Tools, Add-Ins and then re-check the Solver Table. It should now add the item back and be functional. Download and use the Solver Table Excel tutorial file above - and download/open the instructions above to test the re-installation of the Solver Table.

For Excel 2002/XP or 2000 users who are having trouble with Solver Table:

  • Go into Excel and under Tools\Add-Ins, un-check the Solver, Solver Table, Treeplan, Sensit, and Risksim Add-ins.
  • Find the files called "solver.dll" and "solver.xla" (should be located at C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Library\Solver).
  • Move the files "solver.dll" and "solver.xla" from the \Solver folder to the \Library folder
  • Go back to Excel and re-check the Solver Add-in. Try to run it. If it does not run, or if it comes up with an error when running, you will need to re-install Solver from your Office XP / 2002 CD. After you re-install Solver, it should work fine.
  • Next, make sure the following files are located in the following directories:
    • solver.dll and solver.xla should be in both the \Solver and \Library folders
    • decision_tree.xla should be in the \Library folder
    • solver_table.xla should be in the \Library folder
    • risksim.xla should be in the \Library folder
    • sensit.xla should be in the \Solver folder

Most users who have Office XP / 2002 have success with this procedure.

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Where to go if the methods used above do not resolve the problem:
The Excel Add-Ins publisher and/or our Help Desk staff are ready to assist you.
  • Click here to visit the Hillier / McGraw Hill publisher's website for more download and installation information regarding Solver Table for Excel 2003 and Excel 2007.
  • Contact the Centenary College Help Desk for further assistance at (908) 852-1400, extension 2362 (and press 2).
 
Installing PHSTAT2 - NOTE: this installation works with Microsoft Excel 2007 and is backward compatible. It should also work within Windows Vista.
  • Click here on how to set up PHSTAT2 (readme file) in Microsoft Word format.
  • Click here on how to set up PHSTAT2 (readme file) in Web Format.
  • Click here to launch the Setup file to install PHSTAT2 to your computer.

If you are experiencing difficulty with installing PHSTAT, please contact the Parsippany Help Desk at 973.257.5190, ext. 5362.

 

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