what-if analysis

Question

Level 1

8 points

what-if analysis

Hi there!

I'm new to numbers and I like it a lot but I'm getting stuck moving from excel to numbers.
How can I do data analysis within numbers? For example, ms excel 2003 has the "what-if analysis" feature, I only go to menu: Data > Table, and then I can specify the column/row cell input for what-if scenario.
Is there any way to achieve this same thing in numbers?
Regards,

Angel JGM

MacBook Pro 13", Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 13, 2010 9:53 PM

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Answer 1

Barry

Level 9

60,029 points

Oct 14, 2010 12:59 AM in response to Angel JGM

Hi Angel'

Yes (probably) and No.

Numbers does not include the data analysis tools ((Scenario Manager, Goal Seek, and Data Tables) in that Excel menu.

But given a description of 'this same thing,' it is probably possible to 'achieve this same thing' using Numbers, although I expect doing so would require a bit more hands on effort.

Regards,
Barry

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Answer 2

Barry

Level 9

60,029 points

Oct 14, 2010 10:05 PM in response to Angel JGM

Given a description of (A) what you have and (B) what you want to do with it, I'm sure someone here could offer pointers on how to get from A to B. Without a bit of information, though, it's difficult to build a map (or even to suggest where to go looking for a map).

Regards,
Barry

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Answer 3

Barry

Level 9

60,029 points

Oct 21, 2010 11:49 PM in response to Angel JGM

Angel JGM wrote:
I just need what-if analysis in numbers; I use it to perform simulations like Monte Carlo.
Any ideas how to perform what-if analysis? any work around? add-in?

No, but at least that's enough information to go looking for a map, and may be enough information to bring about an 'Aha! That's what (s)he's talking about!' and come up with a solution.

A web search for ' simulation "monte carlo" ' did lead to this page, aimed at Excel users, but possibly applicable to Numbers.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Regards,
Barry

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Answer 4

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,825 points

Oct 22, 2010 5:27 AM in response to Barry

Hello Barry

As I am curious, I entered the linked page and downloaded the sample files.
Alas, they are in a file named "ExcelDABM.exe" so I can't extract the files on my mac which will never embed windows.

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) vendredi 22 octobre 2010 14:27:39

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Answer 5

Angel JGM Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 22, 2010 9:28 AM in response to Barry

Hey Barry,

I think I didn't explain myself; the link you posted is about something I already know, I mean, I don't have any problems performing monte carlo simulation in excel. It's just like the example in the link your posted.

My problem is that ms excel 2003 has a helpful feature for "what-if analysis" which is menu: Data > Table, and then I can specify the column/row cell input for what-if scenario.
But I haven't found anything like this for numbers, that's why I posted in this forum (i already google my problem)

My question was, Is there any way to achieve this same thing in numbers (menu: Data>Table)?

Anyway, I think it's just not possible in numbers I think because I haven't found any workaround. I think ms excel is just better for this kind of stuff. So far I've found ms excel more powerful than numbers, maybe in the future numbers will be this powerful too.

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Answer 6

Barry

Level 9

60,029 points

Oct 23, 2010 12:04 AM in response to Angel JGM

Hi Angel,

You're correct regarding Numbers not supporting tools such as the 'solver' in Excel (and the rest of that set. I didn't initially recognize 'what-if' as part of that set, which is why I initially asked for clarification.

Whether Numbers will eventually contain similar tools is a design question, and anyone able to provide a definitive answer will have signed a non-disclosure agreement before becoming privy to that information.

Meantime, if Excel is what's needed to do the job, that's the tool you should use. You might also examine the open source alternatives, NeoOffice and OpenOffice.org.

Regards,
Barry

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Answer 7

Angel JGM Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 14, 2010 9:30 PM in response to Barry

Any ideas where to look for? I really would like to try it in numbers

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Answer 8

Angel JGM Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 21, 2010 9:52 PM in response to Barry

I just need what-if analysis in numbers; I use it to perform simulations like Monte Carlo.
Any ideas how to perform what-if analysis? any work around? add-in?
thx!

Reply