Calc Guide

9

Chapter
Data Analysis
Using Scenarios, Goal Seek, Solver, others
This PDF is designed to be read onscreen, two pages at atime. If you want to print a copy, your PDF viewer shouldhave an option for printing two pages on one sheet ofpaper, but you may need to start with page 2 to get it toprint facing pages correctly. (Print this cover page
separately.)CopyrightThis document is Copyright © 2007–2010 by its contributors as listed
in the section titled Authors. You may distribute it and/or modify it
under the terms of either the GNU General Public License, version 3 orlater, or the Creative Commons Attribution License, version 3.0 or
later.
All trademarks within this guide belong to their legitimate owners.

Authors
Jean Hollis Weber
Nikita Telang
James Andrew
Claire Wood

Feedback
Please direct any comments or suggestions about this document to:authors@documentation.openoffice.org

Acknowledgments
Some of this chapter is based on articles originally written by Bruce
Byfield and first published on the Linux Journal website. Some
examples are taken from the OOo Help.

Publication date and software version
Published 17 June 2010. Based on OpenOffice.org 3.2.

You can download
an editable version of this document fromhttp://oooauthors.org/english/userguide3/published/

Contents
Copyright............................................................................................... 2
Introduction........................................................................................... 4
Consolidating data................................................................................. 4
Creating subtotals.................................................................................. 7
Using “what if” scenarios......................................................................9
Creating scenarios.............................................................................. 9
Settings............................................................................................. 10
Changing scenarios........................................................................... 11
Changing scenario properties........................................................11
Changing scenario cell values.......................................................12
Working with scenarios using the Navigator....................................12
Tracking values in scenarios.............................................................13
Using other “what if” tools..................................................................13
Multiple operations in columns or rows............................................15
Calculating with one formula and one variable.............................15
Calculating with several formulas simultaneously.........................17
Multiple operations across rows and columns..................................19
Calculating with two variables.......................................................19
Working backwards using Goal Seek...................................................20
Goal Seek example............................................................................ 21
Using the Solver................................................................................... 22
Solver example.................................................................................23

Data Analysis

3Introduction
Once you are familiar with functions and formulas, the next step is tolearn how to use Calc's automated processes to quickly perform useful
analysis of your data.
Calc includes several tools to help you manipulate the information inyour spreadsheets, ranging from features for copying and reusing data,
to creating subtotals automatically, to varying information to help you
find the answers you need. These tools are divided between the Tools
and Data menus.
If you are a newcomer to spreadsheets, these tools can be
overwhelming at first. However, they become simpler if you rememberthat they all depend on input from either a cell or a range of cells that
contain the data with which you are working.
You can always enter the cells or range manually, but in many cases it
is easier to select the cells with the mouse. Click the Shrink/Maximize
icon
beside a field to temporarily reduce the size of the tool’s
window, so you can see the spreadsheet underneath and select thecells required.
Sometimes, you may have to experiment with which data goes into
which field, but, once you have found out, you then set a selection of
options, many of which can be ignored in any given case. Just keep thebasic purpose of each tool in mind, and you should have little trouble
with Calc’s function tools.
You don’t need to learn them, especially if your spreadsheet use issimple, but as your manipulation of data becomes more sophisticated,
they can save time in making calculations, especially as you start todeal with hypothetical situations. Just as importantly, they can allow
you to preserve your work and to share it with other people—or
yourself at a later session.
One function tool not mentioned here are DataPilots (also known aspivot tables), but they are a topic that is sufficiently complex that it
requires a separate chapter. (See Chapter 8.)

Consolidating data
Data > Consolidate provides a way to combine data from two or moreranges of cells into a new range while running one of several functions(such as Sum or Average) on the data. During consolidation, thecontents of cells from several sheets can be combined into one place.
4

Data Analysis

1) Open the document containing the cell ranges to be consolidated.
2) Choose Data > Consolidate to open the Consolidate dialog.
Figure 1 shows this dialog after making the changes described
below.

Figure 1: Defining the data to be consolidated
3) The Source data range list contains any existing named ranges(created using Data > Define Range) so you can quickly selectone to consolidate with other areas.
If the source range is not named, click in the field to the right ofthe drop-down list and either type a reference for the first source
data range or use the mouse to select the range on the sheet. (Youmay need to move the Consolidate dialog or click on the Shrink
icon to reach the required cells.)4) Click Add. The selected range is added to the Consolidation
ranges list.
5) Select additional ranges and click Add after each selection.
6) Specify where you want to display the result by selecting a target
range from the Copy results to drop-down list.
If the target range is not named, click in the field next to Copy
results to and enter the reference of the target range or selectthe range using the mouse or position the cursor in the top left
Consolidating data5

cell of the target range. Copy results to takes only the first cell of
the target range instead of the entire range as is the case forSource data range.
7) Select a function from the Function list. This specifies how thevalues of the consolidation ranges will be calculated. The default
setting is Sum, which adds the corresponding cell values of the
Source data range and gives the result in the target range.
Most of the available functions are statistical (such as Average,
Min, Max, Stdev), and the tool is most useful when you areworking with the same data over and over.
8) At this point you can click More in the Consolidate dialog toaccess the following additional settings:•
Select Link to source data to insert the formulas thatgenerate the results into the target range, rather than theactual results. If you link the data, any values modified in thesource range are automatically updated in the target range.
Caution•The corresponding cell references in the target range areinserted in consecutive rows, which are automatically ordered
and then hidden from view. Only the final result, based on theselected function, is displayed.

Under Consolidate by, select either Row labels or Column
labels if the cells of the source data range are not to beconsolidated corresponding to the identical position of the cellin the range, but instead according to a matching row label orcolumn label. To consolidate by row labels or column labels,
the label must be contained in the selected source ranges. The
text in the labels must be identical, so that rows or columns
can be accurately matched. If the row or column label of one
source data range does not match any that exist in othersource data ranges, it is added to the target range as a newrow or column.

9) Click OK to consolidate the ranges.
10) If you are continually working with the same range, then you
probably want to use Data > Define Range to give it a name.
The consolidation ranges and target range are saved as part of the
document. If you later open a document in which consolidation has
been defined, this data is still available.

6

Data Analysis

Creating subtotals
SUBTOTAL is a function listed under the Mathematical category when
you use the Function Wizard (Insert > Function). Because of its
usefulness, the function has a graphical interface accessible from Data
> Subtotals.
As the name suggests, SUBTOTAL totals data arranged in an array—that is, a group of cells with labels for columns. Using the Subtotals
dialog, you can select up to three arrays, then choose a statistical
function to apply to them. When you click OK, Calc adds subtotal andgrand total rows to the selected arrays, using the Result and Result2
cell styles to differentiate those entries. By default, matching items
throughout your array will be gathered together as a single group
above a subtotal.
To insert subtotal values into a sheet:
1) Ensure that the columns have labels.
2) Select the range of cells that you want to calculate subtotals for,and then choose Data > Subtotals.
3) In the Subtotals dialog, in the Group by list, select the column bywhich the subtotals need to be grouped. A subtotal will becalculated for each distinct value in this column.

Figure 2: Setting up subtotals

Creating subtotals

74) In the Calculate subtotals for box, select the columns
containing the values that you want to create subtotals for. If thecontents of the selected columns change later, the subtotals areautomatically recalculated.
5) In the Use function box, select the function that you want to use
to calculate the subtotals.
6) Click OK.
If you use more than one group, then you can also arrange thesubtotals according to choices made on the dialog’s Options page,
including ascending and descending order or using one of thepredefined custom sorts defined in Tools > Options >OpenOffice.org Calc > Sort Lists.

Figure 3: Choosing options for subtotals

8

Data Analysis

Using “what if” scenarios
Scenarios are a tool to test “what-if” questions. Each scenario isnamed, and can be edited and formatted separately. When you print
the spreadsheet, only the contents of the currently active scenario areprinted.
A scenario is essentially a saved set of cell values for your calculations.
You can easily switch between these sets using the Navigator or adrop-down list which can be shown beside the changing cells. For
example, if you wanted to calculate the effect of different interest rates
on an investment, you could add a scenario for each interest rate, andquickly view the results. Formulas that rely on the values changed byyour scenario are updated when the scenario is opened. If all yoursources of income used scenarios, you could efficiently build a complex
model of your possible income.

Creating scenarios
Tools > Scenarios opens a dialog with options for creating a scenario.
To create a new scenario:
1) Select the cells that contain the values that will change between
scenarios. To select multiple ranges, hold down the Ctrl key as
you click. You must select at least two cells.
2) Choose Tools > Scenarios.
3) On the Create Scenario dialog (Figure 4), enter a name for the
new scenario. It’s best to use a name that clearly identifies the
scenario, not the default name as shown in the illustration. This
name is displayed in the Navigator and in the title bar of theborder around the scenario on the sheet itself.
4) Optionally add some information to the Comment box. The
example shows the default comment. This information isdisplayed in the Navigator when you click the Scenarios icon andselect the desired scenario.
5) Optionally select or deselect the options in the Settings section.
See page 10 for more information about these options.
6) Click OK to close the dialog. The new scenario is automatically
activated.
You can create several scenarios for any given range of cells.

Using “what if” scenarios

9Figure 4: Creating a scenario

Settings
The lower portion of the Create Scenario dialog contains several
options. The default settings (as shown in Figure 4) are likely to besuitable in most situations.
Display border
Places a border around the range of cells that your scenario alters.
To choose the color of the border, use the field to the right of thisoption. The border has a title bar displaying the name of the active
scenario. Click the arrow button to the right of the scenario name toopen a drop-down list of all the scenarios that have been defined forthe cells within the border. You can choose any of the scenarios fromthis list at any time.
Copy backCopies any changes you make to the values of scenario cells backinto the active scenario. If you do not select this option, the saved
scenario values are never changed when you make changes. The
actual behavior of the Copy back setting depends on the cell
protection, the sheet protection, and the Prevent changes setting(see Table 1 on page 12).

10

Data Analysis

If you are viewing a scenario which has Copy back enabled andthen create a new scenario by changing the values and selecting
Caution Tools > Scenarios, you also inadvertently overwrite the values
in the first scenario.
This is easily avoided if you leave the current values alone,create a new scenario with Copy back enabled, and then change
the values only when you are viewing the new scenario.

Copy entire sheet
Adds to your document a sheet that permanently displays the new
scenario in full. This is in addition to creating the scenario andmaking it selectable on the original sheet as normal.
Prevent changes
Prevents changes to a Copy back-enabled scenario when the sheet
is protected but the cells are not. Also prevents changes to thesettings described in this section while the sheet is protected. A
fuller explanation of the effect this option has in different situations
is given below.

Changing scenarios
Scenarios have two aspects which can be altered independently:• Scenario properties (the settings described above)• Scenario cell values (the entries within the scenario border)

The extent to which either of these aspects can be changed isdependent upon both the existing properties of the scenario and thecurrent protection state of the sheet and cells.

Changing scenario properties
If the sheet is protected (Tools > Protect Document > Sheet), andPrevent changes is selected then scenario properties cannot bechanged.
If the sheet is protected, and Prevent changes is not selected, then all
scenario properties can be changed except Prevent changes and
Copy entire sheet, which are disabled.
If the sheet is not protected, then Prevent changes does not have any
effect, and all scenario properties can be changed.

Using “what if” scenarios

11Changing scenario cell values
Table 1 summarizes the interaction of various settings in preventing or
allowing changes in scenario cell values.
Table 1: Prevent changes behavior for scenario cell value changes
Settings

Change allowed

Sheet protection ON
Scenario cell protection OFF
Prevent changes ON
Copy back ON

Scenario cell values cannot bechanged.

Sheet protection ON
Scenario cell protection OFF
Prevent changes OFF
Copy back ON

Scenario cell values can be changed,
and the scenario is updated.

Sheet protection ON
Scenario cell protection OFF
Prevent changes ON or OFF
Copy back OFF

Scenario cell values can be changed,
but the scenario is not updated due tothe Copy back setting.

Sheet protection ON
Scenario cell protection ON
Prevent changes ANY SETTING
Copy back ANY SETTING

Scenario cell values cannot bechanged.

Sheet protection OFF
Scenario cell protection ANYSETTING
Prevent changes ANY SETTING
Copy back ANY SETTING

Scenario cell values can be changed
and the scenario is updated or not,depending on the Copy back setting.

Working with scenarios using the Navigator
After scenarios are added to a spreadsheet, you can jump to aparticular scenario by selecting it from the list in the Navigator.
To find a scenario in the Navigator, click the Scenarios icon in the
Navigator. The defined scenarios are listed, along with the commentsthat were entered when the scenarios were created.
To apply a scenario to the current sheet, double-click the scenario
name in the Navigator.

12

Data Analysis

To delete a scenario, right-click the name in the Navigator and choose
Delete.
To edit a scenario, including its name and comments, right-click thename in the Navigator and choose Properties. The Edit Properties
dialog is the same as the Create Scenario dialog (Figure 4).

Figure 5: Scenarios in the Navigator

Tracking values in scenarios
To learn which values in the scenario affect other values, choose Tools> Detective > Trace Dependents. Arrows point to the cells that are
directly dependent on the current cell.

Using other “what if” tools
Like scenarios, Data > Multiple Operations is a planning tool for“what if” questions. Unlike a scenario, the Multiple Operations tool
does not present the alternate versions in the same cells or with adrop-down list. Instead, the Multiple Operations tool creates a formulaarray: a separate set of cells showing the results of applying theformula to a list of alternative values for the variables used by theUsing other “what if” tools

13formula. Although this tool is not listed among the functions, it is reallya function that acts on other functions, allowing you to calculatedifferent results without having to enter and run them separately.
To use the Multiple Operations tool, you need two arrays of cells. The
first array contains the original or default values and the formulas
applied to them. The formulas must be in a range.
The second array is the formula array. It is created by entering a list ofalternative values for one or two of the original values.
Once the alternative values are created, you use the Multiple
Operations tool to specify which formulas you are using, as well as theoriginal values used by the formulas. The second array is then filledwith the results of using each alternative value in place of the originalvalues.
The Multiple Operations tool can use any number of formulas, but only
one or two variables. With one variable, the formula array ofalternative values for the variables will be in a single column or row.
With two variables, you should outline a table of cells such that thealternative values for one variable are arranged as column headings,
and the alternative values for the other variable act as row headings.
Setting up multiple operations can be confusing at first. For example,
when using two variables, you need to select them carefully, so thatthey form a meaningful table. Not every pair of variables is useful to
add to the same formula array. Yet, even when working with a single
variable, a new user can easily make mistakes or forget therelationships between cells in the original array and cells in theformula array. In these situations, Tools > Detective can help toclarify the relations.
You can also make formula arrays easier to work with if you apply
some simple design logic. Place the original and the formula arrayclose together on the same sheet, and use labels for the rows andcolumns in both. These small exercises in organizational design makeworking with the formula array much less painful, particularly when
you are correcting mistakes or adjusting results.
Note

14

If you export a spreadsheet containing multiple operations to
Microsoft Excel, the location of the cells containing the formula
must be fully defined relative to the data range.

Data Analysis

Multiple operations in columns or rows
In your spreadsheet, enter a formula to calculate a result from values
that are stored in other cells. Then, set up a cell range containing a listof alternatives for one of the values used in the formula. The Multiple
Operations command produces a list of results adjacent to youralternative values by running the formula against each of thesealternatives.
Note

Before you choose the Data > Multiple Operations option, be
sure to select not only your list of alternative values but also theadjacent cells into which the results should be placed.

In the Formulas field of the Multiple Operations dialog, enter the cellreference to the formula that you wish to use.
The arrangement of your alternative values dictates how you should
complete the rest of the dialog. If you have listed them in a single
column, you should complete the field for Column input cell. If they arealong a single row, complete the Row input cell field. You may also use
both in more advanced cases. Both single and double-variable versions
are explained below.
The above can be explained best by examples. Cell references
correspond to those in the following figures.
Let’s say you produce toys that you sell for $10 each (cell B1). Each toy
costs $2 to make (cell B2), in addition to which you have fixed costs of$10,000 per year (cell B3). How much profit will you make in a year ifyou sell a particular number of toys?

Calculating with one formula and one variable
1) To calculate the profit, first enter any number as the quantity(items sold); in this example, 2000 (cell B4). The profit is foundfrom the formula Profit=Quantity * (Selling price – Direct costs) –Fixed costs. Enter this formula in B5: =B4*(B1-B2)-B3.
2) In column D enter a variety of alternative annual sales figures,
one below the other; for example, 500 to 5000, in steps of 500.
3) Select the range D2:E11, and thus the values in column D and theempty cells (which will receive the results of the calculations)alongside in column E.
4) Choose Data > Multiple Operations.
5) With the cursor in the Formulas field of the Multiple operations
dialog, click cell B5.

Using other “what if” tools

156) Set the cursor in the Column input cell field and click cell B4. Thismeans that B4, the quantity, is the variable in the formula, whichis to be replaced by the column of alternative values. Figure 6
shows the worksheet and the Multiple operations dialog.
7) Click OK. The profits for the different quantities are now shownin column E. See Figure 7.

Tip

You may find it easier to mark the required reference in the
sheet if you click the Shrink icon to reduce the Multiple
operations dialog to the size of the input field. The icon thenchanges to the Maximize icon; click it to restore the dialog to its
original size.

Figure 6: Sheet and Multiple operations dialog showing input

16

Data Analysis

Figure 7: Sheet showing results of multiple operations calculations

Calculating with several formulas simultaneously
1) In the sheet from the previous example, delete the contents ofcolumn E.
2) Enter the following formula in C5: =B5/B4. You are now
calculating the annual profit per item sold.
3) Select the range D2:F11, thus three columns.
4) Choose Data > Multiple Operations.
5) With the cursor in the Formulas field of the Multiple operations
dialog, select cells B5 and C5.
6) Set the cursor in the Column input cell field and click cell B4.
Figure 8 shows the worksheet and the Multiple operations dialog.

Using other “what if” tools

17

Figure 8: Sheet and dialog showing input
7) Click OK. Now the profits are listed in column E and the annual
profit per item in column F.

Figure 9: Results of multiple operations calculations

18

Data Analysis

Multiple operations across rows and columns
You can carry out multiple operations simultaneously for both columns
and rows in so-called cross-tables. The formula must use at least twovariables, the alternative values for which should be arranged so thatone set is along a single row and the other set appears in a single
column. These two sets of alternative values will form column and row
headings for the results table produced by the Multiple Operations
procedure.
Select the range defined by both data ranges (thus including all of theblank cells that are to contain the results) and choose Data >Multiple operations. Enter the cell reference to the formula in the
Formulas field. The Row input cell and the Column input cell fields areused to enter the reference to the corresponding cells of the formula.
CautionBeware of entering the cell reference of a variable into thewrong field. The Row input cell field should contain not the cellreference of the variable which changes down the rows of yourresults table, but that of the variable whose alternative values
have been entered along a single row.

Calculating with two variables
You now want to vary not just the quantity produced annually, but also
the selling price, and you are interested in the profit in each case.
Expand the table shown in Figure 8 above. D2 thru D11 alreadycontain the numbers 500, 1000 and so on, up to 5000. In E1 throughH1 enter the numbers 8, 10, 15 and 20.
1) Select the range D1:H11.
2) Choose Data > Multiple Operations.
3) With the cursor in the Formulas field of the Multiple operations
dialog, click cell B5 (profit).
4) Set the cursor in the Row input cell field and click cell B1. Thismeans that B1, the selling price, is the horizontally enteredvariable (with the values 8, 10, 15 and 20).
5) Set the cursor in the Column input cell field and click cell B4. Thismeans that B4, the quantity, is the vertically entered variable.

Using other “what if” tools

19

Figure 10: Sheet and dialog showing input
6) Click OK. The profits for the different selling prices are now
shown in the range E2:H11.

Figure 11: Results of multiple operations calculations

Working backwards using Goal Seek
Usually, you create a formula to calculate a result based upon existingvalues. By contrast, using Tools > Goal Seek you can discover whatvalues will produce the result that you want.
To take a simple example, imagine that the Chief Financial Officer of acompany is developing sales projections for each quarter of theforthcoming year. She knows what the company’s total income must be
for the year to satisfy stockholders. She also has a good idea of thecompany’s income in the first three quarters, because of the contracts
20

Data Analysis

that are already signed. For the fourth quarter, however, no definite
income is available. So how much must the company earn in Q4 toreach its goal? The CFO can enter the projected earnings for each of
the other three quarters along with a formula that totals all four
quarters. Then she runs a goal seek on the empty cell for Q4 sales, andreceives her answer.
Other uses of goal seek may be more complicated, but the method
remains the same. Only one argument can be altered in a single goal
seek.

Goal Seek example
To calculate annual interest (I), create a table with the values for thecapital (C), number of years (n), and interest rate (i). The formula is
I = C*n*i.
Let us assume that the interest rate i of 7.5% and the number of yearsn (1) will remain constant. However, you want to know how much theinvestment capital C would have to be modified in order to attain aparticular return I. For this example, calculate how much capital C
would be required if you want an annual return of $15,000.
Enter each of the values mentioned above into adjacent cells (forCapital, C, an arbitrary value like $100,000 or it can be left blank; fornumber of years, n, 1; for interest rate, i, 7.5%). Enter the formula tocalculate the interest, I, in another cell. Instead of C, n, and i, use thereference to the cell with the corresponding value. In our example(Figure 12), this would be =B1*B2*B3.
1) Place the cursor in the formula cell (B4), and choose Tools >Goal Seek.
2) In the Goal Seek dialog, the correct cell is already entered in the
Formula cell field.
3) Place the cursor in the Variable cell field. In the sheet, click in thecell that contains the value to be changed, in this example it is B1.
4) Enter the desired result of the formula in the Target value field. In
this example, the value is 15000. Figure 12 shows the cells andfields.

Working backwards using Goal Seek

21

Figure 12: Example setup for goal seek5) Click OK. A dialog appears informing you that the Goal Seek was
successful. Click Yes to enter the goal value into the variable cell.
The result is shown below.

Figure 13: Result of goal seek operation

Using the Solver
Tools > Solver amounts to a more elaborate form of Goal Seek. The
difference is that the Solver deals with equations with multiple
unknown variables. It is specifically designed to minimize or maximize
the result according to a set of rules that you define.
Each of these rules defines whether an argument in the formula should
be greater than, less than, or equal to the figure you enter. If you want
the argument to remain unchanged, you must enter a rule thatspecifically states that the cell should be equal to its current entry. For
arguments that you would like to change, you need to add two rules todefine a range of possible values: the limiting conditions. For example,
you can set the constraint that one of the variables or cells must not bebigger than another variable, or not bigger than a given value. You can
22

Data Analysis

also define the constraint that one or more variables must be integers(values without decimals), or binary values (where only 0 and 1 areallowed).
Once you have finished setting up the rules, click the Solve button to
begin the automatic process of adjusting values and calculating
results. Depending on the complexity of the task, this may take sometime.

Solver example
Let’s say you have $10,000 that you want to invest in two mutual funds
for one year. Fund X is a low risk fund with 8% interest rate and FundY is a higher risk fund with 12% interest rate. How much money should
be invested in each fund to earn a total interest of $1000?
To find the answer using Solver:
1) Enter labels and data:•
Row labels: Fund X, Fund Y, and total, in cells A2 thru A4.
•
Column labels: interest earned, amount invested, interest
rate, and time period, in cells B1 thru E1.
•
Interest rates: 8 and 12, in cells D2 and D3.
•
Time period: 1, in cells E2 and E3.
•
Total amount invested: 10000, in cell C4.
2) Enter an arbitrary value (0 or leave blank) in cell C2 as amountinvested in Fund X.
3) Enter formulas:•
In cell C3, enter the formula C4–C2 (total amount – amountinvested in Fund X) as the amount invested in Fund Y.
•
In cells B2 and B3, enter the formula for calculating theinterest earned (see Figure 14).
•
In cell B4, enter the formula B2+B3 as the total interest
earned.

Figure 14: Example setup for Solver
Using the Solver234) Choose Tools > Solver. The Solver dialog opens.

Figure 15: The Solver dialog
5) Click in the Target cell field. In the sheet, click in the cell that
contains the target value. In this example it is cell B4 containing
total interest value.
6) Select Value of and enter 1000 in the field next to it. In thisexample, the target cell value is 1000 because your target is a
total interest earned of $1000. Select Maximum or Minimum if
the target cell value needs to be one of those extremes.
7) Click in the By changing cells field and click on cell C2 in the
sheet. In this example, you need to find the amount invested inFund X (cell C2).
8) Enter limiting conditions for the variables by selecting the Cellreference, Operator and Value fields. In this example, the amountinvested in Fund X (cell C2) should not be greater than the total
amount available (cell C4) and should not be less than 0.
9) Click OK. A dialog appears informing you that the Solving
successfully finished. Click Keep Result to enter the result in thecell with the variable value. The result is shown in Figure 16.

24

Data Analysis

Figure 16: Result of Solver operation

Note

The default solver supports only linear equations. For nonlinear
programming requirements, try the EuroOffice Solver or Sun’s
Solver for Nonlinear Programming [Beta]. Both are available
from the OpenOffice.org extensions repository. (For more about
extensions, see Chapter 14 (Setting up and Customizing Calc.)

Using the Solver

25