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The Global Insight

How do you set constraints in Solver?

Author

James Olson

Updated on February 06, 2026

Adding constraints to Excel Solver

  1. Choose Data → Solver.
  2. Use the Set Objective box, the To group, and the By Changing Variable Cells box to set up Solver as described above.
  3. Click Add.
  4. In the Cell Reference box, enter the address of the cell you want to constrain.

Why does Solver not work in Excel?

Sometimes it happens that the ActiveX settings in Office Application are disabled and for that reason, it shows you Excel solver not working. To make it work then follow the below-given steps to check ActiveX settings: Open Excel. Click on File>Options>Trust Centre.

How do you find optimal solutions using Solver?

To find the optimal solution, execute the following steps.

  1. On the Data tab, in the Analyze group, click Solver. Enter the solver parameters (read on). The result should be consistent with the picture below.
  2. Enter TotalProfit for the Objective.
  3. Click Max.

How many constraints can solver handle?

200 decision
Limits on the Number of Constraints The standard Excel Solver has a limit of 200 decision variables or changing cells.

How do you find constraints?

1 Answer

  1. Well, you must read the text well and identify three things :
  2. 1) The linear function that has to be maximized/minimized.
  3. 2) The variables, those occur in the linear function of 1)
  4. 3) The constraints are also a linear function of the variables,
  5. and that function has to be ≥ or ≤ a number.

Does Solver only have one optimal solution?

An optimal solution is a feasible solution where the objective function reaches its maximum (or minimum) value – for example, the most profit or the least cost. Solver is designed to find feasible and optimal solutions. In the best case, it will find the globally optimal solution – but this is not always possible.

What is the difference between Goal Seek and Solver?

Goal Seek determines what value needs to be in an input cell to achieve a desired result in a formula cell. Solver determines what values need to be in multiple input cells to achieve a desired result.

Where is Solver in Excel?

Excel Solver – How to load or start Solver

  • Click the File tab, click Options, and then click the Add-ins category.
  • In the Manage box, click Excel Add-ins, and then click Go.
  • In the Add-ins available box, select the Solver Add-in check box.
  • Now on the Data tab, in the Analysis group, you should see the Solver command.

    What is Goal Seek in Excel?

    Goal seeking is one of the tools used in “what-if analysis” on computer software programs. A spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel has a goal seeking tool built-in. It allows the user to determine the desired input value for a formula when the output value is already known.

    Why is my Solver taking so long?

    If you use a large, arbitrary bound (upper or lower), a solver can take excessive time, or even fail to converge. However, if you set Inf or -Inf as the bound, the solver can take less time, and might converge better.

    How many decision variables can Solver handle?

    200 decision variables
    Limits on Decision Variables The standard Microsoft Excel Solver has a limit of 200 decision variables, for both linear and nonlinear problems.

    What are the constraints for the problem?

    In mathematics, a constraint is a condition of an optimization problem that the solution must satisfy. There are several types of constraints—primarily equality constraints, inequality constraints, and integer constraints. The set of candidate solutions that satisfy all constraints is called the feasible set.

    What is a constraint equation?

    A constraint equation is the definite relation that the unknown variables always maintain between them.