Other add-ins are password protected. The current versions of the add-ins all have the same password, ppp. We provide this password, and open the add-ins to the public, for several reasons. First when an error occurs, the user knowledgeable in VBA may be able to correct it. A second reason is to allow the user interested in programming in VBA to look at and use sample code. The add-ins may not use the best coding practices, but there is a great deal of code. It may be possible to use parts of the code for other applications. Finally, we hope that others will create add-ins for Operations Research. VBA is a powerful language and Microsoft is constantly improving it. We hope that there will be a community of persons providing add-ins for all to use.

If you find and correct an error, improve the code or create a new application, please notify the author so your work can be made available to others.

The VBA Editor

Excel and the other applications of Microsoft Office include a VBA Editor that allows the user to view, create and change programs. To reach the editor, open Excel, select Macro on the Tools menu and select VBA Editor from the submenu. This takes you to the editor. On the Mac, the F11 function key with the Option key toggles between Excel and the editor. Once in the editor, select Project Explorer from the View menu. The Project Explorer window lists all the add-ins currently installed. Click on the add-in of interest. If it is password protected, enter the password. The source code and forms for the add-in are contained in folders. Simply open a folder and open the module containing the code. Return to Excel by using the toggle key or selecting Excel from the View menu. If an add-in is changed, you must save it by selecting Save on the File menu. Before issuing the Save command, be sure to have the cursor placed on a module belonging to the add-in in the Project Explorer.

If you use or modify the add-ins, this author would be glad to hear about it.

Paul Jensen
July, 2001