Microsoft Office Excel for Engineers

Excel Primer

This document outlines many of the commands reviewed in the

SolidWorks screencast Microsoft Office Excel Tips for Engineers

Created By:
Darren Henry, Director of Product Marketing
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation

©2010 Dassault Systèmes, All Rights Reserved

Data Population
Quickly populate adjacent cells with series of values

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday

January

Cell Addressing
In formulas, Excel uses relative addressing by default. As you copy formulas through your spreadsheet it will
adjust the cell locations.

To lock down the cell location insert a dollar sign "$" in the cell address.

Equation How Excel interprets the address

=A5 relative addressing
=$A$5 equation will always reference cell A5 no matter where it is copied
=$A5 equation will always reference column A, but will adjust the row number as it is copied
=A$5 equation will always reference row 5, but will adjust the column letter as it is copied

Darren's Tips: Use the F4 key to quickly cycle through the various address combinations
Data Validation (List)
Location: Data →Data Validation
Use Data Validation to make user friendly pick lists

Possible Uses:
Prompting for options and accessories
Selecting languages, units, or styles

Darren's Tips: The list used for validation must reside on the same worksheet as the cell being
validated. The "Source" field of a Data Validation list can utilize "IF" functions to add another level of
customization.

Example:
Color hexadecimal
Blue 16711680

Color Red Green Blue Hexadecimal

Black 0 0 0 0
Red 255 0 0 255
Orange 255 128 0 33023
Green 0 255 0 65280
Blue 0 0 255 16711680
Purple 255 128 255 16744703
Turquoise 0 255 255 16776960
White 255 255 255 16777215
he cell being
dd another level of
IF
Syntax: IF(logical_test,value_if_true,value_if_false)
Use IF to conduct conditional tests on values and formulas. Returns one value if a condition
you specify evaluates to TRUE and another value if it evaluates to FALSE.

Possible Uses:

Millions of uses, from conditional formulas based on dimensions, to part number prefixes
based on options. When driving CAD models with Excel, use IF functions to control whether a
component is suppressed or resolved.

Darren's Tips: You can nest up to six IF functions, but if there is more than three, consider
storing data in a table and use Vlookup.

Darren Henry:
$STATE@Caster<1>

Here an IF function
suppresses or resolves a
caster component based
on a user's choice. Type
Caster?

in "No" in cell B11 to see

the change.

Example: Yes R
CONCATENATE
Text1, text2, ... are 1 to 30 text items to be joined into a single text item. The text items can be
Syntax: CONCATENATE
text strings, numbers, or(text1,text2,...)
single-cell references.

Possible Uses:
Piecing together part numbers

Darren's Tips: You can explicitly type in any symbols that separate prefixes and suffixes, but I
find if you list them in individual cells, it aids in edit-ability

Material Length Hole spacing

Example: SS 12 1.5

Special Character
- Part Number SS-12-1.5
&
Syntax: "Text1"&" Text 2"
.

Possible Uses:
Piecing together part numbers

Darren's Tips: Remember to add " " Space between variables when desired

material Length hole spacing

Example: SS 12 15

Part Number SS - 12 - 15 Darren Henry:

Here we used a simple
formula with & to piece
together a part number.
We explicitly typed in the
dashes and spaces.
VLOOKUP
Syntax: VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num,range_lookup)
Searches for a value in the leftmost column of a table, and then returns a value in the same row
from a column you specify in the table.

Possible Uses:
Use instead of writing nested IF statements, finding part number prefixes and suffixes, finding
correct hexadecimal color code, etc

Darren's Tips: Watch out for unwanted spaces in the first column, excel will not find a match if
there is and extra space in the text string. You can Vlookup from different worksheets, so
organize your tables by storing data on other worksheets

Example: Color hexadecimal Darren Henry:

Black 0 Vlookup is locating the
color in the table and
then returning the
corresponding value in
the 5th column.
Color Red Green Blue Hexadecimal
Black 0 0 0 0
Red 255 0 0 255
Orange 255 128 0 33023
Green 0 255 0 65280
Blue 0 0 255 16711680
Purple 255 128 255 16744703
Turquoise 0 255 255 16776960
White 255 255 255 16777215
Trace Precedents
Found under Formulas-> Trace Precedents
Draws arrows to show cell dependencies. Great tool to help understand where a
cell's value originates.

Possible Uses:
Making your formulas easy to troubleshoot

Darren's Tips: Use Trace Precedence, Show Formulas, and simple double clicking to help
understand which cells have equations and where they come from. The arrows will be
removed when saving or you can use the Remove Arrows command when you are done.

material Length hole spacing

Example: SS 12 15

Special Character
- Part Number SS-12-15
Darren Henry:
click on cell and choose
Formulas ->Trace
Precedents
INT
Syntax: INT(number)
Rounds a number down to the nearest integer.

Possible Uses:
Use when calculating number of instances in patterns

Darren's Tips: INT does not round up, so accurate hole calculations may require multiple formulas

Example 1: Number Integer

2.8 2

Example 2: overall length 18

hole spacing 3.5
number of holes 5
Custom Views
Found under Views --> Custom Views…
Quickly toggle betweens showing your control panel, and the entire design
table

Darren Henry:
a few custom views have
been created. Go to View-
>Custom View to see
them.
CONVERT
Syntax: CONVERT(number,from_unit,to_unit)

Use Convert to convert a number from one unit of measurement to another.

Possible Uses:

Great for any type of Engineering calculation. Allow the user of the spreadsheet to
specify the type of units they are familiar with, and convert all data to suite.

Darren's Tips: Specify the from_unit and to_unit in cells, so they can be changed
quickly.

Heat Converter
2400 J equals 2.275 BTU

Darren Henry: Darren Henry:

Enter any value in this cell Convert was used in this
and it will be converted cell to calculate the value
from Joules to BTUs of BTUs
Paste Special
Location: Available from Right Mouse Button, once a cell has been selected for copy
Enables the user to copy more than a cells value. Includes the ability to copy data validation
restrictions as well as perform bulk mathematical tasks.

Possible Uses:
Update price sheets or quantities in BOMs

Price New Price Multiplier

$100.00 0.9
$150.00
$200.00
Darren Henry:
$250.00
Select cell D20 and choose
$300.00 Copy, then highlight the prices
$350.00 and use Paste Special, Multiply.
All the numbers will be
multiplied by 0.9
Copying from PDF files
Many product spec sheets and property tables are available as PDF files. Often
you may copy the data for use with 3D CAD models.

In Adobe Acrobat, when selecting large amounts of tabular data, use the right
mouse button option: "Copy as Table" to aid in copying the data
Custom Lists
Create a custom list that Excel will use to auto-populate adjacent cells with series of values

Under Excel Options --> Popular--> Edit Custom Lists, you can simply type a series of values or
import from an array of data that exists in your spreadsheet.

Darren
Neil
Mark
Jeremy
Match
Syntax: Match(Lookup value, Lookup array, Match Type)

Use Match to return the row and column location within an array of data.
Use a zero as the "match type" for an exact match

Mechanical Properties for Wrought Aluminum

Tension
% Brinell Ultimate
Ultimate Yield
Alloy and Elongation Hardness Shearing Endurance
Strength Strength
Temper 1/16" thick 500kg, 10- Strength Limit (ksi)
(ksi) (ksi)
specimen mm ball (ksi)

3003-H12 19 18 10 35 12 8
3003-H14 22 21 8 40 14 9 Quick Find
3003-H16 26 25 5 47 15 10
3003-H18 29 27 4 55 16 10 Material
3004-O 26 10 20 45 16 14 Property
3004-H32 31 25 10 52 17 15
3004-H34 35 29 9 63 18 15 Row
3004-H36 38 33 5 70 20 16 Column
3004-H38 41 36 5 77 21 16
4032-T6 55 46 12 120 38 16
5005-O 18 6 25 28 11 14
5005-H12 20 19 10 36 14 14
5005-H14 23 22 6 41 14 14
5005-H16 26 25 5 46 15 14
5005-H18 29 28 4 51 16 14
5005-H32 20 17 11 36 14 15
5005-H34 23 20 8 41 14 12
5005-H36 26 24 6 46 15 12
5005-H38 29 27 5 51 16 12
Quick Find

5005-H34
Yield Strength (ksi)

17
3
Index + Match
Syntax: Index(reference, row number, column number, area number)

Use Index as an alternative to Vlookup. Index will find a value within a table. It uses the intersection of a s
column. If the you are looking up data from one continuous table, you can leave the area number blank. T
is perfect to use to help specify the row and column location.

Mechanical Properties for Wrought Aluminum

Tension
% Brinell Ultimate
Alloy and Ultimate Yield Elongation Hardness Shearing Endurance
Supplier Strength Strength
Temper 1/16" thick 500kg, 10- Strength Limit (ksi)
(ksi) (ksi)
specimen mm ball (ksi)

Wingate 3003-H12 19 18 10 35 12 8
Wingate 3003-H14 22 21 8 40 14 9 Quick Find
Wingate 3003-H16 26 25 5 47 15 10
Wingate 3003-H18 29 27 4 55 16 10 Material
Argyleln 3004-O 26 10 20 45 16 14 Property
Argyleln 3004-H32 31 25 10 52 17 15
Argyleln 3004-H34 35 29 9 63 18 15 Value
Argyleln 3004-H36 38 33 5 70 20 16
Argyleln 3004-H38 41 36 5 77 21 16
Wingate 4032-T6 55 46 12 120 38 16
Wingate 5005-O 18 6 25 28 11 14
Bonnell 5005-H12 20 19 10 36 14 14
Bonnell 5005-H14 23 22 6 41 14 14
Bonnell 5005-H16 26 25 5 46 15 14
Bonnell 5005-H18 29 28 4 51 16 14
Bonnell 5005-H32 20 17 11 36 14 15
Argyleln 5005-H34 23 20 8 41 14 12
Argyleln 5005-H36 26 24 6 46 15 12
Argyleln 5005-H38 29 27 5 51 16 12
ses the intersection of a specified row and
the area number blank. The Match function

Quick Find

3004-O
Ultimate Shearing Strength (ksi)

16
Conditional Formating
Location: Home -> Conditional Formatting

Use Conditional Formatting to add clarity to data without creati

separate charts and graphs. Different methods can be used to a
value bars, shading, or icons to the data.

Part Quantity Mass (g)

BEARING - LINEAR 2 95.00
BLOCK - BEVEL DETENT 1 235.52
BUSHING - BEVEL LOCK 3 0.83
BUSHING - LINEAR ROD 4 15.46
Countersunk Flat Head Cross Recess Screw_DIN(ISO 7046-1 - M4 x 16 - Z --- 16C) 3 0.25
Curved Spring Lock Washer_DIN(Spring washer DIN 128 - A5) 2 0.04
HANDLE - PEDESTAL-LH 1 45.82
HANDLE - PEDESTAL-RH 1 47.03
Hex Nut GradeC_DIN(Hexagon Nut ISO 4034 - M5 - N) 2 0.23
Hex Screw GradeAB_DIN(ISO 4017 - M4 x 10-N) 1 0.24
Hex Screw GradeAB_DIN(ISO 4017 - M6 x 16-C) 2 0.79
Hex Thin Nut Chamfered GradeAB_DIN(Hexagon Thin Nut ISO 4035 - M8 - C) 4 0.43
Pan Head Cross Recess Screw_DIN(ISO 7045 - M4 x 20 - Z --- 20N) 2 0.36
Pan Head Cross Recess Screw_DIN(ISO 7045 - M5 x 10 - Z --- 10N) 2 0.39
PEDESTAL - BEARING - B3 1 83.61
PLATE - BEVEL LOCK 2 15.28
Shim-Support Ring_DIN(DIN 988-S6x12) 2 0.10
SHIELD - LINEAR BEARING 2 27.22
Socket Head Cap Screw_DIN(DIN 912 M6 x 25 --- 25C) 2 1.10
Socket Set Screw Cup Point_DIN(DIN 916 - M8 x 12-C) 2 0.50
Socket Set Screw Flat Point_DIN(DIN 913 - M8 x 16-C) 4 0.71
ithout creating
be used to add
Excel Solver
Location: Data--> Analysis-->Solver
Note: You must enable the Solver Add-in

Use the excel solver to perform what if analysis. It

will solve for an optimal value of a cell, and take into
consideration numerous constraints.

Example: Excel will find the height of a cylinder so

that it will have a specified volume. To see the solver
dialog, highlight the yellow cell and chose the solver
command.

Cylinder Volume Calculation

Diameter 45 mm
Target Volume 250.00 ml

Calculated Volume 250.00 ml

Height 157.19 mm
Solved Height 157.19 mm