Using "What If" Scenarios

Apache OpenOffice 4.1 Calc Guide

Chapter 9: Data Analysis

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• Introduction
• Consolidating Data
• Creating Subtotals
• Using “What If” Scenarios
  • Creating Scenarios
  • Settings
  • Changing Scenarios
    • Changing Scenario Properties
    • Changing Scenario Cell Values
  • Working with Scenarios Using the Navigator
  • Tracking Values in Scenarios
• Using Other “What If” Tools
  • Multiple Operations in Columns or Rows
    • Calculating with One Formula and One Variable
    • Calculating with Several Formulas Simultaneously
  • Multiple Operations Across Rows and Columns
    • Calculating with Two Variables
• Working Backwards Using Goal Seek
  • Goal Seek Example
• Using the Solver
  • Solver Example

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Using "What If" Scenarios

Scenarios are a tool to test “what-if” questions. Each scenario is named and can be edited and formatted separately. Only the contents of the currently active scenario are printed when you print the spreadsheet.

A scenario is essentially a saved set of cell values for your calculations. You can easily switch between these sets using the Navigator or a drop-down list, which can be shown beside the changing cells. For example, if you wanted to calculate the effect of different interest rates on an investment, you could add a scenario for each interest rate and quickly view the results. Formulas that rely on values changed by your scenario are updated when the scenario is opened. If all your sources of income used scenarios, you could efficiently build a complex model of your possible income.