Excel Add-ins

Many Excel users, (including some “Old Hands” at the application), have either overlooked or ignored the many fine tools available as Add-Ins. To find the Add-Ins menu in Excel 2007, (currently the most widely used version of Excel), click on the Microsoft Button, and click the Excel Options button near the bottom of the dropdown.

Here are some of the Great Tools that you will find available:

• Analysis ToolPak
• Conditional Sum Wizard
• Euro Currency Tools
• Lookup Wizard
• Solver Add-in

Of the group, my favorites are the Analysis ToolPak and the Solver Add-in. The Analysis ToolPak contains the following Fabulous (can you tell I’m an old geek?...) tools:

• Correlation
• Covariance
• Exponential Smoothing (which is so cool!)
• Histogram
• Moving Average
• Much more…

The Solver Add-in, on the other hand, can be effectively used to maximize sales/profit plans, strategic planning, optimizing a product mix, and even picking a winning team! Really, Really Cool!

Excel Add-Ins. Look them up and give them a Test Drive. You will be glad you did!