Skip to content
English - United States
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

How to Identify Your Excel Solver and Where to Get Support

This article explains how to determine which Solver you are using in Excel and where to get support when you encounter Solver errors such as "cell reference box is empty or contents are not valid."

Summary

  • Identify whether you are using the Solver available from the Home tab (Frontline Solvers' free Solver) or the Excel Solver add-in under the Data tab.

If you are using the Solver add-in under the Data tab, contact Microsoft for troubleshooting and support.

 

Which Solver are you using?

  • Home tab: We offer a free Solver available under the Home tab.
  • Analytic Solver tab or Data Science tab: Displayed on the Excel Ribbon.

What to do when you see errors (for example: "cell reference box is empty or contents are not valid")

  1. Check which Solver you launched:
    • If you opened Solver from the Home tab, you have the free Solver accessed from there.
    • If you opened the Analytic Solver tab, you are using Analytic Solver.
    • If you opened the Data Science tab, you are using Data Science.
    • If you are using the Excel Solver add-in under the Data tab:
      • Microsoft is the provider of that Solver (Frontline Solvers helped create it but it was sold to Microsoft).
      • For diagnostic help or troubleshooting of that version, contact Microsoft support.
  2. If you launched Solver from the Home tab, Analytic Solver tab, or Data Science tab:
    • The free solver can't handle custom functions, make sure you are only using Excel functions in your model.
    • The error message from solver should provide the cell the error is in. Check the formula in that cell or any cells that reference it.
    • If you are still having issues, contact support@solver.com and attach screenshots of any error you are seeing.