Excel > Excel 2003 Advanced > What-If Analysis

Using Scenarios

A Scenario is a "What-If" projection using multiple variables. Scenarios are saved making them accessible for later comparison and review.

The Scenario Manager

The Scenario Manager stores all scenarios created within the workbook. From here, scenarios can be created, viewed, edited and deleted.

Click Tools > Scenarios to view the Scenario Manager

The Scenario Manager is blank as no scenarios have been created yet.

Create a scenario

1. Click the Add button

The Add Scenario dialogue box is displayed



2. Enter a name to identify the scenario in the Scenario name field
3. In the Changing cells field, select the cells containing the data to be changed
4. Enter a description of the purpose of the scenario in the Comment box
5. Click Ok

The Scenario Values dialogue box is displayed



6. Enter the values to be used in each field

Click Add to create more scenarios, or click Ok to return to the Scenario Manager

The scenarios can be viewed in the Scenario Manager

View a scenario

From the Scenario Manager:

1. Select the scenario you want to view
2. Click the Show button

The scenarios values are inputted on the worksheet and result calculated

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to view all necessary scenarios

The values of last scenario viewed remain on screen

Edit a scenario

From the Scenario Manager:

1. Select the scenario you want to edit
2. Click the Edit button

The Edit Scenario dialogue box is displayed



3. Change the Scenario name and/or Comment
4. Click Ok

The Scenario Values dialogue box is displayed

5. Change any required values
6. Click Ok

The Scenario Manager dialogue box is displayed

Delete a scenario

From the Scenario Manager:

1. Select the scenario to delete
2. Click the Delete button

Create a Scenario Summary

There are two types of scenario summary:

• Tabular view: Shows each scenario variable and the result produced.
• PivotTable view: Shows just the scenario names and the result produced

From the Scenario Manager:

1. Click the Summary button

The Scenario Summary dialogue box is displayed



2. Select the desired report type
3. Click Ok

The example below is of tabular view

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