0.2 Excel Assignments and Excel Add-Ins

You will need to use Excel 365 or Excel 2019 to complete the activities in this course. Please note that the cloud-based online version of Excel will not operate properly with the course materials; a version of Excel that has been downloaded and installed on your local hard drive is required for this course.

The version of Microsoft Excel you need for this course is part of the Microsoft Office suite and is often available at little or no cost to current students. Your instructor may have information on how to download a free or reduced-price copy of Excel.

Check Your Version of Excel

If you plan to use a computer that already has Excel installed, you will need to check your version before starting.

Check Your Version of Excel (00:51)

To check your version:

  • Click on the File menu and choose Account.

  • If you have Excel 2019, the Account page will display 2019 as shown.

    Check the build number. If it is less than 11425.20204, click the Office Updates button.

    A build greater than or equal to 11425.20204 is necessary for this course. If your updated build is lower, you may need to download and install Excel 365.

    Figure 0.1: Excel 2019

  • If you have Office 365, the Account page will display 365 as shown in Figure 0.2.

    Figure 0.2: Excel 365

Installing the Excel Add-Ins

In order to complete all of the tasks in this course, you will need to have two Excel Add-in packages and one COM Add-in package:

  • Analysis ToolPak Excel Add-in

  • Solver Excel Add-in

  • Power Pivot COM Add-in

To add the two Excel Add-in packages to your copy of Excel, do the following:

  1. Click the File menu item.

  2. Click on the Options menu item (at the bottom).

  3. Click on Add-ins menu item.

  4. In the Manage box, select Excel Add-ins and click on the Go button.

  5. Be sure that Analysis ToolPak and Solver Add-in are checked in the dialog window that pops up. Click OK.

To add the Power Pivot COM Add-in package to your copy of Excel, do the following:

  1. Click the File menu item.

  2. Click on the Options menu item (at the bottom).

  3. Click on Add-ins menu item.

  4. In the Manage box, select COM Add-ins and click on the Go button.

  5. Be sure that Microsoft Power Pivot for Excel Add-in is checked in the dialog window. Click OK.

Student Resource Materials—Working the Examples

Throughout the body of the textbook, there are figures for examples and videos of examples. These figure examples and videos are created using various spreadsheets. These spreadsheets are linked at the beginning of each chapter and in the Student Materials area of the textbook. You are encouraged to download these materials to follow along with the text example or video and to practice and experiment on your own.

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